TOPEKA, Kan. — The events over the last 18 months, including the fire at the beef plant in Holcomb and the COVID-19 pandemic, have put a spotlight on the need for more packing capacity in the beef industry. In response, investments are being made in a plant expansion and a new regional packing facility.
National Beef Packing Company LLC announced plans last week to increase processing capacity and add a second production shift at its Iowa Premium facility in Tama, IA. National Beef said the total investment will be more than $100 million and will double the capacity of the plant to about 2,500 head per day. The project is expected to be completed in late 2022. The company, which is based in Kansas City, also operates two 6,000-head-per-day facilities in Dodge City and Liberal.
On the regional front, a group of cattlemen and investors have formed Sustainable Beef LLC and are seeking to build a small plant in North Platte, NE, to help the industry increase the beef supply pipelines. The proposed plant will exceed 300,000 square feet and cost more than $200 million to construct. It is expected to be operational in early 2023 and will process about 1,500 head per day.
— Kansas Livestock Association
For more Kansas news, click here.