Another New Packing Plant? It's in the Planning Process

Another New Packing Plant? It's in the Planning Process

An article in The Great Falls Tribune reports another large multi-specie processing plant could be on the horizon adding to increased capacity from other new plants. This one would potentially be located on the outskirts of Great Falls, Mont.

 

Friesen Foods, a Canadian-based company, has purchased 3,018 acres of undeveloped farmland, with plans to build the “Madison Food Park,” confirmed the Cascade County Planning Division in the article.

 

The property is located a little more than 8 miles east of the Great Falls city limits.

 

“If approved and constructed as described within a Special Use Permit (SUP) application filed with the Cascade County Planning Division, the proposed ‘Madison Food Park’ complex could employ up to 3,000 people, exporting thousands of tons of meat to consumer markets throughout North America,” reports David Murray, author of the article.

“’The scope and scale of the proposed Madison Food Park (MFP) property and project will include, when complete, a state-of-the-art, robotically controlled, environmentally friendly, multi-species food processing plant for cattle, pigs and chickens and the related further processing facilities for beef, pork and poultry,’ a Friesen Foods response to the special use application states,” the article states.

The project will also reportedly incorporate processing for milk and cheese, as well as a distillery. The article at full capacity, the plant could have as many as “165 truckloads of cattle, hogs, chickens and bulk milk each week,” the article notes.

“’In addition to the meat packing elements, the project will also incorporate facilities for the processing of both fresh milk supplied by local and regional dairy producers into a variety of cheese products, as well as a distillery, which will source the grain necessary for the production of Montana branded spirits from cereal crops grown by area farmers within the Golden Triangle.”

According to the article, the Friesen family of businesses “have been operating in Albert for the past two decades. From a livestock production enterprise, the corporation has expanded to include meat processing and animal nutrition divisions…The financial backing and development of the Friesen franchise is closely related to the Hutterite Colonies of southern Alberta.”

Planning is in the beginning stages, as landowners adjacent to the proposed complex will need to be notified, and a number of local and state agencies will need to approve the plan, writes Murray.

 

Latest News

Why You Need to Understand How USDA Purchase Programs Work
Why You Need to Understand How USDA Purchase Programs Work

With pork producers facing prolonged economic headwinds, recent USDA commodity purchases of pork offer relief at pivotal times. It’s important to understand how these programs work, says NPPC president Lori Stevermer.

Get the Facts Straight on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Get the Facts Straight on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Now that the mystery illness impacting some dairy herds has been revealed as the same strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza that has been impacting the U.S. poultry flock, pork producers are asking questions.

Merck Introduces Sequivity with Microsol Diluvac Forte Adjuvant Prescription Vaccine
Merck Introduces Sequivity with Microsol Diluvac Forte Adjuvant Prescription Vaccine

Merck Animal Health announced it has received license approval from the USDA for Sequivity with Microsol Diluvac Forte adjuvant prescription vaccine for use in gilts and sows. 

What Does the Next Generation of the Pork Industry Want?
What Does the Next Generation of the Pork Industry Want?

It’s easy to make assumptions about what others think, but recent research funded by the Indiana Pork Producers Association and the Indiana Soybean Alliance proves it’s always better to go to the source itself.

Skills Survey Reveals U.S. Agriculture & Food Industry Workforce Needs and Gaps
Skills Survey Reveals U.S. Agriculture & Food Industry Workforce Needs and Gaps

U.S. employers report challenges in finding suitable job candidates with work-ready skills to fill open roles in ag. The AgCareers.com U.S. Skills Survey offers insights, data and trends to address skill development.

5 Ways to Improve Sow Longevity
5 Ways to Improve Sow Longevity

The potential for a successful sow starts well before the sow is first bred. Here are five ways you can improve sow longevity by focusing on the gilt from weaning until the time of first breeding.