WALL, S.D. – Western Legacy Development Corporation, the corporate that has proposed to construct a $1.1 billion high-tech meat processing plant in Rapid City, invited the group to return ask questions Thursday on the Wall Community Center.
Livestock trade leaders obtained the chance to ask questions and voice their considerations to Western Legacy Development Corporation’s planning and growth board members. Representatives from the Fall River Feedyard, Belle Fouche and Phillip Livestock Auctions, U.S Beef Producers, a small meat packing facility in Ft. Pierre, in addition to space ranchers, requested a few of the questions many have been questioning about.
The facility’s potential to acquire 8,000 head of cattle to be killed, 252 days of the yr – totaling greater than two million cattle and costing roughly $60 million a yr – was one of the requested questions.
Megan Kingsbury, Western Legacy Development Corporation President and CEO mentioned that whereas South Dakota cattle might be given desire, cattle can be procured from a 5 neighboring state area, specializing in money commerce gross sales relatively than different advertising and marketing agreements.
“We do perceive the gravity of 8,000 head on this market. We know that it’s there. We know that we’re capable of subsidize if mandatory, there are feedlots that we have now seen shut down and that may be introduced again to life,” she mentioned.
As for the query as to how the Corporation and the brand new facility can be funded and sustained over the subsequent three years – Kingsbury replied that “sure” she personally had the cash to fund the undertaking.
“I’m not asking for anybody’s cash. I’m doing this by myself dime. If I fail, I fail, however I’ll fail making an attempt,” mentioned Kingsbury. “We have the capital and we have now the fortune 100 in addition to the sovereign wealth fund of us cheering for us. Again, that is privately held. This is my dime. This is my greenback on the road. It’s my fame on the finish of the day.”
Kingsbury mentioned that the company has contracted with an unnamed fortune 100 fast-food group for the crops beef and that almost all of the merchandise leaving the power can be for giant shoppers relatively than placed on grocery retailer cabinets. She mentioned that the company was nonetheless in negotiations for the plant’s different merchandise.
While everybody in attendance felt that the processing plant was a great for the South Dakota beef trade the query nonetheless lingered: How was Western Legacy Development Corporation actually going to compete with the large 4 pacing corporations?
“We can combat them. We know methods to combat them. The distinction between us and them is that we have now the selection as human beings as methods to play and we are going to play ethically, will play pretty nicely. We will play with integrity,” Kingsbury mentioned. “What makes me assume I can do that is I do know I can do that. I imagine I can do that. This is a problem. This clearly just isn’t simple, in any other case, any individual else would have finished it and any individual else would have succeeded. I’m a really distinctive mix. I’ve the capital. I’ve the fortitude. I’ve the smarts. I’ve the spine. And I’ve the help of the South Dakotans in addition to the worldwide help to get this undertaking finished.”
Livestock trade leaders really feel the brand new facility will enhance South Dakota agriculture – bringing new alternatives to develop extra livestock feed with new seed applied sciences, creating and increasing feed yards and assist improve sustainability for space ranchers.
“We assume the chance for producers akin to yourselves to seize a few of that worth, to get right here, to start out feedlots, to retain possession in feedlots which are nearer to your house locations are a few of these secondary industries which are simply going to be completely excellent,” mentioned James Halverson, South Dakota Stockgrowers Association Executive Director.
“Listening to the producers right here tonight, you recognize, a number of of them commented about the priority for the sustainability of the trade and of ranching and of manufacturing, and that’s very important to everybody who eats. And so something that may be finished to assist our ranchers and our farmers and assist that market and all of its ranges issues. So lots of good issues got here out tonight and extra to return,” mentioned Pat Jones, Ward 1 Rapid City Councilman. “Within the town council processes are in place proper now to verify nothing comes ahead that isn’t nicely studied and researched and goes to be in one of the best curiosity of the residents of Rapid City.”
Jones mentioned Western Legacy Corporation will host a future query and reply assembly in Rapid City with a date but to be introduced.
Read extra about the proposed packing plant here.
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