In the United States, plans for a new soybean crushing plant to be built at the Butler Logistics Park northwest of Shell Rock, Iowa (IA) have been revealed that, pending state and local approvals, will propel value-added agriculture forward in Iowa. Mid-Iowa Cooperative, a farmer-owned cooperative based in east-central Iowa, and Mike Kinley, Mid-Iowa’s CEO, are leading the effort to create Shell Rock Soy Processing LLC (SRSP).
When operational in 2022, this plant will crush 38.5 million bushels (≈ 1 million tonnes) of soybeans annually, or 110 000 bushels daily, and will create 50 to 60 high-quality jobs. The facility will produce soybean meal, and pelleted soybean hulls for the livestock feed markets, and crude soybean oil for biodiesel production.
We’re positioned to extract all the value possible from locally-grown soybeans. This plant can supply both food and fuel needs, and it will bring Butler County and surrounding areas into the center of the global ag economy, Mike Kinley said.
Mid-Iowa will own a portion of SRSP, which will cost approximately US$270 million, and is currently seeking investors for the project. Mid-Iowa will also help originate soybeans for the plant.
Not only will SRSP create more than 50 high-quality jobs, but it allows our area to build on its strong agricultural heritage. This will help expand farm income potential, and it will diversify the economy, which can benefit everyone, said Jeff Kolb, Executive Director of the Butler-Grundy Development Alliance.
