New feed mill showcased
CHRISMAN – The opening of a new feed mill is a rare occurrence. It’s even a rarer event for the public to be invited to tour the mill. That’s exactly what The Equity did by hosting an Open House for their new state-of-the-art Horace feed mill on Wednesday, August 22.
Approximately 200 members of the surrounding east-central Illinois and west-central Indiana communities enjoyed a free pork sandwich and learned about the technology utilized in the feed milling process and the connection to pork production. Attendees had an opportunity to network with other agricultural companies and view displays and information from vendors.
“We wanted to offer a chance for the public to come out and see the feed mill for themselves and learn more about what we do here,” said Darwin Wohltman, The Equity vice-president of feed and livestock. “The mill is designed to produce up to 450,000 tons per year of complete swine feeds, which will feed 1.35 million market pigs annually.”
The mill, which started construction in 2016 and began operation in February 2018, consists of three major concrete sections – a 156-foot-tall mill building, a receiving and loadout building and a warehouse. Corn is supplied from the adjacent 4-million-bushel grain elevator. The mill is set up to receive other feed ingredients at up to 300 tons per hour.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the positive economic contributions to the local and state economies through additional jobs and increased taxes. The mill will add demand for 6.4 million bushels of corn and 2.7 million bushels of soybeans, benefitting area farmers.
Numerous agricultural organizations, feed mill equipment companies and feed ingredient companies helped to sponsor the event. Sponsors of the event included: ADM Nutrition; CPM-Beta Raven-Roskamp Champion; DP Techlink, LLC; Hog Slat; Illinois Corn Marketing Board; Illinois Pork Producers Association; Illinois Soybean Association Checkoff Program; Nutra Blend; Provimi – a Cargill Company; Scott Equipment Company; Tyson Fresh Meats; Union Iron; and Zoetis.
