A group of 14 cattle producers are reopening a small beef packing plant in Fort Pierre that has been closed for 17 years. Kim Ulmer one of the investors talks about the build up to the restart of the plant which begin well before the Coronavirus pandemic in the US.
Large packing plants have eliminated most of the smaller beef processors that were once very common. Ulmer said he was impressed with the Fort Pierre building to be converted and updated for use.
Ulmer from Aberdeen who owns Huron Continental Auction company, said the group of 14 investors, US Beef Producers LLC, wanted to have better access to kill floor space.
The plant could be processing 30 head a week by August 1.