October 9, 2024

 

US$58 million feed mill opens in Pennsylvania, US

 
 


Country View Family Farms LLC and Clemens Family Corp have officially unveiled their new US$58 million feed mill in Union County, Pennsylvania, US, Lancaster Farming reported.

 

The feed mill, featuring a 176 ft tall mill tower and a 56 ft tall pellet mill, will produce 8,000 tonnes of pelleted swine feed each week, supporting 975,000 swine across 150 farms within a 50-mile radius.

 

State and local officials, including Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and state Senator Gene Yaw, were among the dignitaries attending the event. Visitors toured the new facility and took a ride on the rail loop that supplies the mill with corn.

 

The mill will operate 24 hours a day, five days a week, across three shifts, and is expected to create 50 jobs. Aaron Ott, president of Country View, noted that the mill will require 460,000 tonnes of corn, part of which will be sourced from local farms, with the remainder brought in from other states by rail.

 

"The ratio of grain purchased locally versus brought in from other states depends on the market and growing season," Ott explained. "In a good year, we may use very little rail. In a drought year, we'll probably use a lot more. But we'll definitely be dependent on local farmers."

 

Local farmers are excited about the new selling opportunities for their grain, Ott said. Country View hopes to eventually add a sixth workday, increasing production to 10,000 tonnes of feed weekly. The facility will produce only pelleted feed, which helps hogs gain weight more efficiently, according to Josh Williams, feed operational planner for Country View.

 

Regarding grain pricing, Ott acknowledged that current prices are low but emphasised the importance of balancing costs for both feed producers and grain farmers. "We have to find a balance on what we offer because grain farmers need to stay in business too. We need them."

 

Secretary Redding highlighted that the state contributed about 5% of the project's funding, with Country View covering the remainder. He also emphasised the significance of this development for Pennsylvania's agricultural future.

 

"Pennsylvania ranks ninth in pork production, but the goal is to keep growing, and the White Deer mill is an important part of that objective," Redding said. "The facility offers growth, biosecurity, and environmental benefits to the Chesapeake Bay."

 

Ott explained that the feed produced at the mill will be composed of 70% corn, 20% soybeans, and 10% micronutrients and minerals. The mill will also produce both medicated and antibiotic-free feed. Grain deliveries to the mill will be streamlined, with trucks unloading in just five minutes, allowing for efficient operations during harvest.

 

The mill's storage capacity includes 600,000 bushels of corn, and it can handle 460,000 tonnes of corn annually via its 2,200 rail cars. The facility may also supply grain and feed ingredients to other mills across the state.

 

-      Lancaster Farming

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