MITCHELL, S.D. (KELO) – In South Dakota, soybeans are a big deal as one of the top crops for the state. And now, there’s a new processing plant for them and other seeds.
After two years of construction, the $500 million High Plains Processing plant is ready to turn soybeans into refined oil for both food and renewable fuel markets.
“You know, this is a building of a long time — a lot of processes went into this,” Brandon Hope, High Plains Board of Directors President, said. “And, you know, to see agriculture and the State of South Dakota really capture something that’s not seen, you know, is a big deal. That’s the fun part of this is something new and exciting coming to this area.”
The plant has the capacity to process 35 million bushels of soybeans a year, but that’s not the only crop that will be moving through this facility.
“Our focus will be on soybeans but we can do other crops, high-oil content crops such as sunflowers, canola, camelina, things like that,” Tom Kersting, CEO of SD Soybean Processors and High Plains Processing, said.
Kersting says this is the first true large-scale multi-seed processing facility in the state.
“The impact is tremendous. We’re here everyday,” Kersting said. “Unlike the exports markets, we’re buying beans, buying product everyday. So, it’s a consistent demand source for crops grown in South Dakota.”
He says it also opens up new avenues for exports.
“We’re going to be servicing a lot of the renewable diesel growth industry in the West Coast,” Kersting said.
“It’s just exciting to have this come to a small community in South Dakota and to get our name on a national level for something that’s not known to a lot of people,” Hope said. “So, it’s a big deal for the community, the state and for ag in general.”
The High Plains Processing plant is managed by the South Dakota Soybean Processors. Operations at the plant will begin in October and it’ll employ 75 full-time workers.
