The Cherryvale, KS Plant Can Process 49 Million Bushels of Soybeans Annually

Bartlett, a Savage company, began processing soybeans in September at its Cherryvale plant in southeastern Kansas.

The plant, which cost more than $400 million to build, can process up to 49 million bushels of soybeans annually.

Soybeans deliveries to the plant began in February 2024 and are being secured primarily from producers in southeast Kansas and neighboring states, company officials said, as well being railed to the 357-acre site from a network of railroads connected to the facility by WATCO’s short line, the South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad.

Only soybeans will be processed at the plant.

The company said in September – when processing began – that the plant’s sustainable soy feedstocks will consist of refined vegetable oil, animal feed in the form of soy meal, and renewable transportation fuels. More than 60 permanent jobs are being created, in addition to the jobs and economic activity that were created during the plant’s construction, which began in 2022, the company said.

Savage’s Engineering, Construction, and Reliability division led the design and construction of the Cherryvale plant, working with the company’s engineering and construction partners.

Numerous contractors were involved in the project, according to the company. “We appreciate the tremendous work of everyone involved in the design, construction, and operation of this world-class facility, and the strong support received from community members and federal, state, and local officials,” said Bob Knief, Bartlett president, when the new plant opened.

“Our new Cherryvale plant will expand markets for area soybean producers and agribusinesses while driving needed economic growth in Southeast Kansas,” Knief added.

Infrastructure

Bartlett’s Cherryvale site includes the processing plant, product tank farm, and grain elevators with a combined storage capacity of 3 million bushels.

A multi-loop track system approximately 30,000 feet long provides rail access for the facility and is served by the South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad. The rail line connects the plant to a network of Class 1 carriers, including the Union Pacific, BNSF, and CPKC. The plant’s location in Montgomery County, KS also provides access to highways 160, 166, 169, and 400.

“We’re excited that this plant will play dual roles in satisfying growing demand for feed and food and also renewable energy,” said Savage CEO Kirk Aubry.

“In addition to our new soybean processing plant in Kansas, we continue to develop a range of sustainable solutions for farmers and food producers,” said Aubry.

Bartlett was established in 1907 and became part of Savage in 2018. It has a diverse range of agribusinesses focused on the acquisition, storage, transportation, processing, and merchandising of grain and is a leading U.S. exporter of grain to Mexico. Bartlett also produces a broad range of flour products for its customers. Its soybean processing capabilities play an increasingly important role in the food and renewable fuel sectors.

Savage is a privately held, global provider of supply chain infrastructure and solutions. Established in 1946, Savage has more than 4,000 employees in approximately 200 locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia.


Grand Opening

On September 19, Bartlett hosted a grand opening event attended by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, Lt. Gov. and Commerce Secretary David Toland, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, and other federal, state, and local leaders.

According to a news release about the grand opening, speakers and guests celebrated the impact Bartlett’s Cherryvale plant will have on jobs, local soybean production and distribution, and economic growth in Montgomery County and southeast Kansas. Company leaders highlighted how the facility will support Bartlett’s customers and partners by optimizing North American supply chains for the agriculture and energy industries.

“This impressive facility is far more than a soybean processing plant. It’s where community members will find good employment. It’s where the demand for renewable fuel will be met. As businesses like Bartlett continue to invest in our communities, we will continue to invest in our people,” said Gov. Kelly.

“We are in a region where it’s sometimes believed that our best days were in the past, said Lt. Gov. Toland. “What this investment brought back for me, as we pulled up, is this is something that’s very much on the scale of the glory days that people like to talk about at the turn of the 20th century. One hundred and twenty-five years ago, when heavy industry was pouring into this region and our towns were booming, it looked a lot like this. We’re doing it again, and that is an exciting thing.”

Sen. Marshall stated that “In Kansas, our farmers and ranchers don’t just work the land – we are stewards of the land. This crush plant will have not only a local impact but will play a larger role in our efforts to leave this world cleaner, healthier, and safer than we found it. It took a community to make this happen, and I am so proud to support this mission.”

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran noted that “Bartlett has been working with local farmers and grain companies across Kansas to produce soybean oil, provide stable jobs, and support the biofuel industry. This new facility will further integrate Kansas’ leading industries – aviation, energy, and agriculture – to create soybean oil that can be converted into sustainable aviation fuel. I look forward to seeing this project develop to provide new markets for our farmers and cleaner energy for the aviation industry.”

Jerry Perkins, contributing editor