October 19, 2011

Northern Beef Packers delays opening again 

The Northern Beef Packers plant, which has suffered years of setbacks, is slated to open in November but postponed to December 9 after yet another recent holdup, reports The Aberdeen American News.

On October 13, the new "open" date was mentioned by Walt Bones, South Dakota Agriculture Secretary, at a committee meeting with state legislators in Pierre. Bones said he had toured the plant last week and was told by CEO David Palmer the US$100 million Northern Beef plant will slaughter 1,500 cattle per day and employ more than 600 workers once fully operational.

In 2006, the land was secured for the plant. Construction had stalled, but the project was revived when Korean investors took over in 2009.