9th-largest U.S. pork producer plans western Iowa facility to produce 400,000 tons of feed
Iowa-based AMVC, the ninth-largest U.S. pork producer, says it plans to build a facility that will produce 400,000 tons of swine feed each year.
The Audubon company declined to disclose the cost of the feed mill slated for Hamlin, a town of fewer than 200 people in west-central Iowa. The mill will be located near an existing Landus Cooperative grain facility.
Ames-based Landus will provide the grain for the mill — an estimated 8.5 million bushels of corn and 48,000 tons of soybean meal annually, it said in a joint news release with AMVC.
Landus said that to help meet AMVC's corn needs it recently acquired Heartland Cooperative's Panora grain site in a swap.
The companies said in February that Landus would acquire Heartland's Rippey and Panora grain and agronomy assets, and Heartland would in turn take over Landus' Woodward grain, agronomy and feed assets.
AMVC, which began as the Audubon Veterinary Clinic and still provides veterinary services, started managing swine operations in 1993. It now employs about 700 people and has 23 veterinarians on staff. The company manages swine operations across 10 states, including 150,000 sows on 41 farms.
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Landus employs about 600 people at more than 60 Iowa locations, and works with 7,000 farmer-owners.
AMVC said it expects the mill will employ eight people and require 14 local truck drivers once it is operational in 2024.
Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com or 515-284-8457.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: AMVC, 9th-largest U.S. pork producer, plans western Iowa facility
