CHS Inc. to Build $700 Million Soybean Processing Facility in Wisconsin
CHS Inc., the nation's largest farmer-owned cooperative, announced plans to build an $700 million soybean processing facility in Evansville, Wisconsin. The project aims to create a major new market for farmers, boost local grain prices, and keep more value from the state's crop at home.
The 80-million-bushel crush plant is expected to employ about 80 people and produce approximately 1 billion pounds of soybean oil and 2 million tons of soybean meal annually. The facility will be located in south-central Wisconsin, near the Illinois border, and is set to begin construction soon with a target completion date of fall 2028.
Industry leaders see this investment as a long-awaited opportunity for Wisconsin soybean growers to participate more fully in the value-added side of the industry. According to Doug Rebout, president of the Wisconsin Soybean Association, 'This investment represents something we have been working toward for years: stronger demand for the crop we grow right here at home.'
The facility's annual capacity will process a substantial share of Wisconsin's soybean production while also drawing beans from neighboring states. This should strengthen basis levels and increase competition among grain buyers.