DES MOINES, Iowa – The construction of Daisy Brand’s $626.5 million, 750,000- square-foot facility currently underway in Boone, Iowa, is signaling the state’s growing emergence in the nation’s dairy surge, according to state and industry officials.

“Daisy Brand’s investment in Iowa further reinforces our standing as a manufacturing powerhouse and reputation for fostering an environment where businesses succeed and grow,” Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said.

“With a third of the nation’s top food manufacturers located in Iowa, and 26 percent of our manufacturing industry attributed to food processing, Iowa and Daisy Brand are a perfect fit,” she added. “From our dairy industry and farmers to our skilled workforce, there is no better place for Daisy Brand to expand, and I am confident the company will continue to flourish in our great state.”

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Daisy Brand broke ground last May on the new dairy processing plant in Boone’s Industrial Park that will produce sour cream and cottage cheese, adding an estimated 255 jobs, with construction expected to be completed by 2027. The facility is expected to become fully operational by the fourth quarter of 2028, officials said.

“It is our most ambitious project yet,” said Ben Sokolsky, Daisy Brand president. “This will be our fourth manufacturing plant across the country, and it represents growth for the Daisy Brand. We’re excited to be part of the (Boone) community.” Currently, Daisy Brand has plants in Garland, Texas, Casa Grande, Ariz., and Wooster, Ohio.

Officials said milk for the plant will come exclusively from Marshall Ridge Farms in nearby State Center, one of the largest dairy farms in Iowa, adding 7,000 cows to its milking operation by the time the plant opens.

Officials added Daisy Brand’s decision to build in Boone came after an extensive search of sites across the upper Midwest, covering multiple states. The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission, in collaboration with the City of Boone, Boone County Economic Growth Corporation and Iowa Economic Development Authority, finalized the deal with Daisy Brands.

“This truly was a regional effort to attract a national brand to central Iowa,” said Dan Culhane, Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission president and CEO. “Our community partners in Boone worked tirelessly to make this project a reality for not only the benefit of Boone, but our entire region.”

According to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), there are three factors currently driving the dairy boom, first of which is Americans are consuming dairy at record levels, delivering what matters most today: flavor, affordability and complete nutrition – and with Iowa starting to play a key role in this surge.

“Consumers are flocking to high-protein foods, gut-healthy options, and simple, wholesome ingredients, and dairy meets every one of those needs,” said Andrew Jerome, IDFA vice president of communications. “Cheese, butter, cultured products like yogurt, cottage cheese and kefir, dairy-based proteins, and value-added milk are all driving year-over-year growth in dairy consumption.”

Secondly, he said, “Dairy is outperforming other commodities in exports. The U.S. dairy industry is also exporting more of our products due to booming demand for U.S. dairy products around the world, including growing markets in Southeast Asia, South America, and Central America.”

Thirdly, he said, “Dairy farmers are leveraging genetics and improved breeding to enhance the component profile of milk so that dairy processors are able to innovate their offerings.” Moreover, he said dairy processors are making significant investments of more than $11 billion in new and expanded manufacturing capacity across 19 states “on account of these tail winds.”

Corey Geiger, CoBank lead dairy economist, said with the I-29 corridor of western Iowa, eastern South Dakota, and western Minnesota experiencing strong dairy growth, Iowa is on a resurgence.

“From increased demands for protein, to an ever-growing demand for artisan cheeses, dairy farms are experiencing profitability and companies are innovating like never before,” he said. “For many reasons, Iowa is poised to be a major player in this dairy boom.

“Iowa currently ranks No. 11 in dairy cows, with 234,000 head, with 246,000 head in October (2025),” he added. “In addition, Iowa’s dairy cows are very efficient, ranking among the top 10 in the nation for milk production, at 24,800 pounds per cow. These factors will continue to have Iowa on the radar for dairy plant expansion in the years to come.”

In addition, Iowa produces high-quality corn silage and alfalfa that can maintain cow health and increase milk production, said Jennifer Bentley, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach dairy field specialist.

“Iowa is fortunate to have water accessibility for both crops and cows, and the manure produced is a much-needed fertilizer source for our crops,” she said. “Iowa has a strong infrastructure (e.g., milking equipment dealers, nutritionists, veterinarians, etc.). While Iowa may not have the most capacity for processing, we are centered in the Midwest to process milk in neighboring states like Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota.”

Jerome said, “Iowa has a long, proud history as a dairy state. It sits at the heart of a strong and reliable milk supply with highly productive farmers, making it an ideal location for processors who depend on consistent, high-quality milk. Dairy brands based in Iowa are nationally known.”

According to Radio Iowa, the State of Iowa has provided a $7 million package of economic development incentives for Daisy Brand’s Boone plant, with the Iowa DOT providing $3 million to extend roads, install a traffic signal and create a roundabout on Highway 30 near the plant site. The city will cover the remaining $750,000 cost of road improvements to accommodate truck traffic in and out of the plant.

Boone Mayor Elijah Stines said, “I am incredibly excited for the positive economic impact this project will bring, and the continued success of Daisy Brands and their impeccable line of dairy products.”