NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

June 25, 1998

Meat Processing Plant Being Studied for Southwest N.D.

The feasibility of establishing a multispecies meat processing plant in southwestern North Dakota is being studied by the NDSU Hettinger Research Extension Center and North Dakota's Institute for Natural Resources and Economic Development (INRED).

"The plant would process high-margin specialty commodities and value-added products with animals coming from producers in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming," said David G. Kraenzel, NDSU agribusiness development specialist and INRED associate director. "Animals being considered for processing include all species of organic meat animals, specialty breeds of beef like Wagyu and Galloway, buffalo, elk, deer and red deer, goats and llamas, rabbits, ratites, all types of poultry, ranch-raised game birds and fish."

The study will examine the availability of these animals, the interest level of producers, the market for each product, and the costs and returns of running the plant. The researchers will also try to identify the best location for the plant and a possible business structure, according to Dan Nudell, research specialist at Hettinger.

This feasibility study is a spin-off from a previous project conducted by INRED that identified economic development opportunities for the region. The multi species meat processing plant was found to be an opportunity worth further study.

Team members working on the project include Nudell, Tim Faller and Erin Brown at Hettinger, and Kraenzel, Harlan Hughes, Tim Petry and Marshall Anderson at NDSU's Fargo campus.

Producers or buyers of these animals or meat products and others who would like more information on the project may contact Brown at the Hettinger Research Extension Center, Box 1377, Hettinger, ND 58636, Phone: (701) 567-4323, Fax: (701) 567-4327, E-mail: ebrown@pop.ctctel.com.

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Sources: Dan Nudell (701) 567-4323 & David Kraenzel (701) 231-7374

Writer: Erin Brown (701) 567-4323

Editor: Becky Koch (701) 231-7875