News

Hilmar Dairy breaks ground on cheese, whey protein plant in Southwest Kansas

One of the world’s largest cheese companies is investing $600 million in a state-of-the-art dairy processing plant that will create additional markets for Kansas dairy farmers.

Hilmar recently broke ground on a cheese and whey protein processing facility in Dodge City and Kansas Dairy CEO Janet Bailey says the plant will help the state’s industry expand. “We just continue to see this as a trajectory of growth. While we recognize diary has continued to experience to see structural change, we are focused the generational opportunities for the next dairy farmer in Kansas.”

She tells Brownfield the Hilmar project helps create incentives for producers to be innovative with their operation. “It allows our farmers to think about the investments they can make on farm and the opportunities their next generation may or that they as young operators may have.”

Hilmar says the plant will create more than 250 jobs.

The company says it will use new sustainable technology to help the dairy industry be net zero by 2050.

A timeline for the project was not available.