|
 |
AgReliant breaks ground for new seed facility
|
Hope to be up and going by spring.
|
August 15, 2012 |
|
 |
Photo identified in full story.
|
|
Groundbreaking for a $36 million seed production facility two miles west of Ogden Thursday, Aug. 9 was attended by several individuals from the local, county and state levels involved with getting the project off the ground.
AgReliant Genetics, an Indiana-based seed company, has been working on the site selection the past 12 to 18 months.
Company officials said they chose Ogden as the location for their new seed plant due to the quality soil, easy access for logistics and distribution and because it was a nice fit with the local and business communities.
Phase I of the 500,000 bushel fully-integrated seed production facility will include a sheller, husker, sorter and dryer. By next fall the company hopes to have the bulk storage unit in place and be set up for conditioning and bagging. Another dryer will be added in the second year.
Their future plans are to continue developing, growing from a 500,000 bushel to 1 million bushel facility.
AgReliant markets four brands of seeds, Agri Gold, Great Lakes Hybrids, LG Seeds and Producers Hybrids. AgReliant CEO Craig Newman said they are looking forward to partnering with the farmers. The company will be contracting 3,500 acres in two separate growing areas. This he explained is to reduce growing risks. He announced that the research station near Boone will soon be completed and will be coming on line this year.
Boone County Supervisor Steve Duffy told those gathered at the groundbreaking that the new seed facility will provide the west anchor of what he refers to as the Hwy. 30 Ag Corridor.
"Boone County is becoming a real ag research and production dynamo in Iowa," said Duffy. To the east is Iowa State University and their ag research facilities. Along the corridor is the Boone County Expo site, AgReliant's research station, Iowa State's Bio-Century Farm and Rolfes @ Boone (Boone Aeration and Environmental Corporation - The Boone Group). Monsanto's seed production facility is also located within the corridor.
Steve Woodall, the new location manager, has already relocated here from Indiana. He will oversee construction of the plant as well as crop planting, production and delivery of the seed.
The Ogden facility is expected to employ 25 full-time staff members with 80 to 100 temporary, seasonal workers.
PHOTO ID: County officials played an integral part in bringing a $36 million capital investment project to the area. AgReliant Genetics has broken ground for the new seed facility near Ogden. Pictured from left are Boone County Supervisors Steve Duffy and Bill Lusher; facility location manager Steve Woodall; Craig Anderson, AgReliant Vice President of Operations; Scott Kruse, County Assistant Engineer; Craig Newman, CEO of AgReliant; Tom Foster, Boone County Supervisor; and Phil Meier, Boone County Auditor. |
|
©The Ogden Reporter 2013
|
|
|
