December 23, 2024

 

Climate-smart soybean facility to open in western Kansas, US

 

The facility will process soybeans cultivated using environmentally friendly practices and aims to enhance the availability of climate-smart dairy products nationwide, according to project partners.

 

This initiative stems from a collaboration between McCarty Family Farms and the Transforming the Farmer to Consumer Supply Chain (Transform F2C) project. Transform F2C is a US$70 million endeavour funded by the US Department of Agriculture's Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Programme.

 

Scheduled to begin operations in late 2025, the facility will roast soybeans grown using at least one in-field practice designed to improve soil health, sequester carbon, or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These practices include planting cover crops, implementing reduced till or no-till farming methods, practising conservation crop rotation, and adopting nutrient management planning.

 

Once processed, the soybeans will be used as feed for McCarty Family Farms' dairy cows. Local soybean farmers participating in the program will have access to a range of incentives supporting the adoption of climate-smart practices and the marketing of climate-smart commodities. Elmglade Farms, owned by McCarty Family Farms, will handle the processing and marketing of the soybeans under the Transform F2C project.

 

Nick Goeser, co-founder of Carbon A List, which administers the USDA grant, highlighted the unique collaboration across the supply chain. "This project brings partners together from throughout the supply chain in a unique way to help close the loop and get climate-smart commodities to grocery stores," he said. "By connecting growers, processors, and retailers, we're creating a pathway to bring more sustainable choices to consumers at scale in a way that also benefits family farms."

 

The soybean roasting facility is expected to deliver both economic and environmental advantages to western Kansas. It will create jobs and establish new infrastructure in the region, contributing to local development, according to Ken McCarty, co-owner of McCarty Family Farms.

 

"We believe that this state-of-the-art soybean roasting facility will further our mission and help bring long-lasting value to our local community," McCarty said. "This innovative collaboration will provide agronomic benefits to our farmer partners while creating sustainable feed ingredients for our cows. We are excited to see the positive impact this project has on our sustainability journey."

 

In early December, McCarty Family Farms and Transform F2C held a grower meeting in Colby, Kansas, to explore opportunities for local growers to join the program. The meeting was attended by more than 40 growers, reflecting significant interest in the initiative.

 

-      Grain Journal