“A dream come true for thus many Missouri farm households.” That’s how Missouri Division of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn described the state’s latest beef processing facility — America’s Heartland Packing LLC.
“It is a massive day for Missouri agriculture,” Chinn stated throughout a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 12 in Warren County. “Our cattle {industry} has struggled not only for the previous few years however for many years. It’s been actually arduous to search out new alternatives to carry that subsequent technology again dwelling to the household farm or ranch.”
America’s Heartland Packing is the most recent endeavor of Wisconsin-based American Meals Group LLC, owned by Rosen’s Diversified Inc. “The Rosen household might see that we had potential within the state of Missouri, however additionally they knew that we love agriculture,” Chinn stated.
AFG began building on the $800 million state-of-the-art beef harvest facility close to Foristell in jap Missouri. Firm house owners stated it’ll begin receiving cattle in 2024.
The 775,000-square-foot greenfield challenge will embrace a harvest flooring, carcass chillers, fabrication space, rendering, additional processing space, storage coolers, freezers and loading docks. As soon as totally operational, it’s projected to course of over 2,400 cattle per day. It fulfills the necessity for extra shackle area for beef producers throughout the area.
Associated: Missouri makes lower for brand new beef processing plant
“We love cows,” Chinn stated, “however we additionally ship our cows someplace else to be completed out.”
She famous the brand new beef processing facility provides each younger and established cattle producers a brand new alternative to complete their very own cattle inside the state borders. America’s Heartland Packing provides yet one more instrument to their advertising and marketing toolbox.
NEW OPPORTUNITY: Missouri’s ag director, Chris Chinn, speaks throughout a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 12 for a brand new cattle processing facility within the state.
And whereas AFG selected the jap facet of the state, Chinn stated the plant serves all of Missouri.
Funding in state, agriculture
The $800 million funding can have a ripple impact on the agriculture group. “We’re creating extra jobs in rural Missouri,” Chinn stated. “We’re going so as to add worth to our cattle market and to our grain market.”
“At this time marks the beginning of our future in Warren County, Mo., the addition of industry-needed hook area, and fulfilling the wants of our prospects, companions and shoppers for beef demand,” stated Steve Van Lannen, president and chief working officer of AFG, a family-owned, U.S. beef processor with places all through the Midwest.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a third-generation farmer and cattleman, stated AFG is a growth that may profit Missouri’s agricultural producers and shoppers for years to return.
“With $94 billion contributed to our economic system yearly, we recognize that agriculture is our No. 1 {industry},” he stated. “AFG’s funding in Missouri additional indicators to the nation and world what we’ve recognized all alongside — that Missouri is the very best place for firms to develop and increase. We couldn’t be extra excited for AFG’s growth in Missouri.”
Chinn added that the groundbreaking is “just the start” of a partnership between AFG and the state’s agriculture group. “We’re going to hold working arduous to help American Meals Group. We will’t wait to be right here in two years once we get to see the primary cattle undergo the plant doorways.”
The American Meals Group LLC contributed to this text.
