Aviagen Turkeys Breaks Ground in Osceola

A new turkey hatchery and commercial poult facility is under construction in Osceola.   Aviagen Turkeys, Inc., a global market leader in poultry genetics, is pleased to announce the establishment of a new enterprise to supply commercial poults and eggs to the turkey industry.  The new company will be called Valley of the Moon Commercial Poults, Inc. (Valley of the Moon CP) which is a continuation of the history that George Nicholas started in Sonoma, California over 70 years ago.  

Construction of a new single-stage hatchery with capacity to set up to 50 million eggs each year is currently underway in Osceola.  This central location will allow Valley of the Moon CP to provide poults to many regions of the U.S.A.   The nearly 87,000 sq.ft. building will be the largest turkey hatchery in the world and will become a significant facility for industry leaders worldwide to visit.  

Iowa Area Development Group conducted a site search on behalf of Aviagen.  “After several months of review and analysis of many sites in south central Iowa, the Osceola site became the final location for the company,” said Mike Meissen, Vice President Value-Added Ag for IADG.  The Iowa Turkey Growers Federation, the Clarke County Development Group, Clarke Electric Cooperative, and IDED were all instrumental in recruiting Aviagen,” stated Meissen.

Completion of the hatchery is expected in early November with poults available to customers in January.  Clarke Electric Cooperative will provide power to the Aviagen location north of Osceola.