Facing controversy since the beginning, the decision to begin construction on a $500-million Wholestone Farms processing plant in Sioux Falls, S.D., will come before voters in November.
The ballot question, led by Smart Growth Sioux Falls, if passed, would ban the construction and operation of new slaughterhouses within the city limits of Sioux Falls and cease Wholestone Farms’ plans to build on the northeastern edge of the city.
The Sioux Falls Development Foundation says, “the precedent set by passing this ordinance would send a negative message about Sioux Falls and the state of South Dakota to future business prospects.” Meanwhile, the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, the Special Olympics of South Dakota and Gov. Kristi Noem have also voiced opposition of the referendum.
On the future site, Wholestone Farms nears the end of construction on a custom butcher shop. This “butcher shop” may have been considered a loophole, allowing the company to bypass any bans, claiming the building of a new slaughterhouse as an “expansion” of existing facilities.
However, a recent court ruling by Circuit Judge Sandra Hoglund Hanson likely halts the work on the custom butchery.
The question in future litigation surrounding the ballot initiative might argue, “what does and does not qualify as a slaughterhouse?” Additionally, the city issued the occupancy permit to Wholestone Farms based upon an inspection, in which the butcher shop passed, Agweek reports.
Wholestone may have to take legal action as to whether the city has authority to revoke permits based upon the inspection, says Wholestone Farms lawyer, Steve Landon. With no allegation it didn’t pass inspection, it certainly qualifies for occupancy based on city standards, Landon adds.
Following the judge’s ruling on Oct. 10, Wholestone has not yet been notified of any revoked permits and have not been required to stop any business plans at this time. Meanwhile, Smart Growth argues that the city of Sioux Falls should stop issuing permits and revoke those that were approved after the ballot question was approved in July, which violates a state law prohibiting a government body from taking action after a law has been referred.
Landon points out contradiction in Smart Growth, as the group says the butcher shop is not a slaughterhouse (which would allow for expansion), yet would therefore not be affected by the election in either outcome.
Plans for the Wholestone Farms construction project, beginning in 2014, that would bring 1,000-plus jobs to the city, now hinges on a yet another vote for Sioux Falls, S.D., residents.
The project is important to local agriculture, Wholestone Farms said in April, with its pig supply mostly coming from farmers that live within 75 miles of Sioux Falls. Established in 2018, the company is owned by 200 members who are independent family farmers raising livestock in the upper Midwest.
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