CHS Inc., the nation’s largest farmer-owned cooperative, plans to begin construction on a new soybean crush facility in Evansville, Wisconsin, expanding U.S. oilseed processing capacity and creating a new major market for soybean growers in the region.
The $700 million investment would be the first large-scale soybean crush plant in Wisconsin and one of the first new facilities of its kind to break ground in the United States in recent years. The facility would have the capacity to process 80 million bushels of soybeans annually.
The plant is expected to produce about 1 billion pounds of soybean oil and 2 million tons of soybean meal each year. The products would supply growing domestic markets for food, animal feed and biofuel feedstocks.
By sourcing a significant portion of its soybeans from Wisconsin farmers, the facility is expected to provide growers with another major local buyer and create new market opportunities across the region. The investment also is intended to retain more of the value of soybeans in the local economy by expanding domestic processing.
NOPA President and CEO Devin Mogler said the investment reflects the role of biofuels policy in supporting expanded soybean processing capacity. He said the industry is on a path toward processing two out of every three rows of soybeans grown in the United States, with demand from biofuels helping create incentives for new processing investments.
Jason Marthaler, CHS vice president for the oilseed product line and a NOPA board member, said the Evansville facility will expand domestic processing capacity and increase supplies of soybean meal and oil for food, feed and energy markets.
The facility is expected to support approximately 80 full-time jobs in Evansville, along with hundreds of construction and skilled trade positions. Some skilled trade jobs are expected to continue beyond construction to support maintenance and facility operations.
The project also is expected to strengthen domestic demand for soybeans while supporting U.S. livestock and biofuel markets. Processing soybeans domestically would allow more of the crop’s value to remain in the United States while producing soybean meal for livestock producers and soybean oil for domestic biofuels markets.
Source: National Oilseed Processors Association, "NOPA Applauds CHS Wisconsin Soy Crush Facility"