It doesn’t take long at the meat department to see one of the side effects of Coronavirus. With large packing plants workers contracting and spreading Covid-19 so easily because of the close working quarters in the industry. The supply chain was significantly effected. Yesterday we heard from Kim Ulmer with US Beef Producers LLC about a small but well built processing facility in Fort Pierre that his group of 14 investors are working to put online in early August. The Packer to Plate program would address the beef supply with a more centralized plant. The state of South Dakota is supporting the project as a benefit for beef producers in the state. Governor Kristi Noem earlier this year spoke about the difficulties for producers to sell outside of the state. She stated that the state inspection program was every bit as good as the USDA and were looking to address that. Ulmer agreed with those remarks and said USDA policy hurt small processors.
While the Fort Pierre processing plant hopes to start with 30 head per week in August and could expand to 70. The group has learned a lot about the steps needed for a similar or larger operation. Ulmer owns Huron continental auction and said there could be newer beef processing in Huron located at the auction complex.
The Fort Pierre plant was being considered well before Covid-19 struck South Dakota and could be a great starting point for the operation.