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Producer-owned processor breaks ground on $300 million facility in Nebraska

Nebraska ranchers have broken ground on a producer-owned beef processing plant that is expected to add more than $1 billion to the economy.

North Platte-based Sustainable Beef LLC is expected to process 400,000 head of cattle per year, employ nearly 900 workers and add 1,000 jobs to the region.

During Tuesday’s ceremony, CEO David Briggs said Central and Western Nebraska is an ideal location. “We have a lot of corn here.  We have a lot of DDGs. We have a lot of ethanol plants.  It’s a great place to feed cattle and have good, quality cattle.”

Briggs says the idea started from conversations with Governor Pete Ricketts and ranchers on a trade trip to Vietnam shortly after the Holcomb, Kansas beef plant fire before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

The $300 million plant is expected to being processing next year.