CHS Inc. broke ground on a new soybean processing facility near Evansville, Wisconsin, marking the start of construction for a project valued at approximately US$700 million. The cooperative announced the development alongside community leaders, growers, and government officials who attended the ceremony in southern Wisconsin. Construction activities are scheduled to commence once necessary permitting requirements are satisfied, with the company targeting completion by autumn 2028.
What it means
The new facility will add 80 million bushels to CHS’s annual soybean processing capacity. Once operational, the plant is projected to produce 1 billion pounds of soybean oil and 2 million tons of soybean meal each year. These products serve the food, animal feed, and renewable fuel industries. The addition increases the cooperative’s total soybean processing capacity by more than two-thirds when combined with its existing operations in Fairmont and Mankato, Minnesota, which currently handle 119 million bushels annually.
CHS President and CEO Jay Debertin said the project “would provide farmers with another reliable market for their soybeans while strengthening domestic agricultural supply chains.” The facility is expected to create about 80 permanent jobs upon completion. During the construction phase, the project will generate hundreds of positions for workers in construction and skilled trades. CHS also announced US$50,000 in community investments directed toward Evansville, including support for the CARE Closet Program and the local high school agriculture program.
Key facts
- US$700 million: approximate investment value of the Evansville facility.
- 80 million bushels: annual soybean processing capacity of the new plant.
- 1 billion pounds: expected annual production of soybean oil.
- 2 million tons: expected annual production of soybean meal.
- Autumn 2028: targeted completion date for the facility.
- About 80: number of permanent jobs anticipated at the plant.
- Hundreds: construction and skilled-trade positions during development.
- US$50,000: community investments announced by CHS in Evansville.
Source: CHS Inc. news release