The facility is expected to be fully operational in 2019.
“We are pleased to report that the engineering design and regulatory approval phase for the new facility in Aberdeen has gone extremely well to date, and that we will break ground on the construction phase of the project in the spring of 2017,” said Keith Spackler, chief executive officer. “State and local officials have been excellent partners throughout this process and we look forward to continued good relationships on this project as we move to the next phase. Feedback from our members and farmers in South Dakota has likewise been extremely positive and encouraging.”
The plans for the soybean facility were originally announced in November 2015. It is expected to be fully operational in 2019 and create approximately 50 jobs.
“AGP moved forward on this project in large part due to the unique combination of attributes for the Aberdeen location — plentiful soybean supplies, a great community for our workforce, strategic infrastructure considerations, and favorable transportation capabilities,” said Cal Meyer, chief operating officer and group vice-president. “In fact, management received board approval for final project plans that included design improvements for expanded capacity in July 2016.”
AGP is an agribusiness with primary operations as a major U.S. soybean processor/refiner producing and marketing soybean meal, refined soybean oil, and biodiesel. AGP businesses also include agricultural product trading in domestic and international markets and numerous U.S. grain elevator operations. According to the 2017 Grain & Milling Annual, AGP has 45 grain facilities and 102 million bushels of total licensed grain storage capacity. AGP is owned by local and regional cooperatives representing farmer?producers across the United States. Corporate headquarters are located in Omaha, Nebraska.