South Dakota beef plant could open in December 2011

The Northern Beef Packers plant, Aberdeen, SD, which had expected to open in November, has set a new target date of Dec. 9. As recently as Sept. 9, beef plant officials had said the plant would be open in November, according to media reports.

The new date was mentioned by South Dakota Agriculture Secretary Walt Bones at a meeting with state legislators in Pierre, SD, on Oct. 13. Bones had toured the plant earlier this month, and at that time was told by CEO David Palmer that Dec. 9 was the target date for opening.

“That was a date that we discussed and it is a working target date at this time; however, we have not set any official start date formally,” Palmer said Thursday, Oct. 13, in a statement released by the public relations director for the plant.

The $100 million beef plant will slaughter 1,500 cattle per day and employ more than 600 workers when fully operational.

The Northern Beef Packers plant, Aberdeen, SD, which had expected to open in November, has set a new target date of Dec. 9. As recently as Sept. 9, beef plant officials had said the plant would be open in November, according to media reports.

The new date was mentioned by South Dakota Agriculture Secretary Walt Bones at a meeting with state legislators in Pierre, SD, on Oct. 13. Bones had toured the plant earlier this month, and at that time was told by CEO David Palmer that Dec. 9 was the target date for opening.

“That was a date that we discussed and it is a working target date at this time; however, we have not set any official start date formally,” Palmer said Thursday, Oct. 13, in a statement released by the public relations director for the plant.

The $100 million beef plant will slaughter 1,500 cattle per day and employ more than 600 workers when fully operational.