Olymel Continues Consolidation Efforts, Announces Closure of Two Further Processing Plants

On Wednesday, Olymel announced the definitive closure of two of its further processing plants as part of the company's ongoing efforts to streamline its operations and ensure profitability across its facilities. 

Olymel is the leading producer, processor, and distributor of pork and poultry in Canada. It has production and processing facilities in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. 

In its fresh pork sector, Olymel announced the closure of its boning and packaging plant in Princeville, Centre-du-Québec. The facility is slated to close on November...

Gov. Pritzker Celebrates Groundbreaking of New Saline River Farms Facility

With support from the state's EDGE program and a USDA grant, Saline River Farms is investing $34.5 million to repair and expand its existing 60,000 square foot facility

Governor JB Pritzker and Saline River Farms today joined local leaders and partners to break ground on Saline River Farms' new state-of-the-art USDA meat processing facility. Supported by the Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit (EDGE) program and a $1.5 million grant through the Meat & Poultry Supply Chain Capital Grant Program along with...

USDA Makes $123 Million in Grants Available for Meat and Poultry Processors

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, partnering with the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, has made $123 million in grants available through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) Phase 2. 

The first round of the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program began in November 2022, when the Biden-Harris Administration invested $73 million in 21 grant projects. 

MPPEP provides grants to help eligible processors expand their processing capacity. USDA Rural Development designed the MPPEP "to encourage competition and sustainable growth in... 

Smithfield Foods' New $45 Million Wastewater System Improving Water Quality in Big Sioux River

Smithfield Foods has built a new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system to replace a majority of the existing system at its pork-processing complex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The new $45 million wastewater system adds additional treatment processes and capabilities to meet new and more stringent permit limits on nitrates and ammonia. The upgraded system biologically converts ammonia-nitrogen in wastewater to nitrate-nitrogen and further removes nitrate-nitrogen from wastewater, a...

Walmart to Invest $257 Million in Beef-Packing Plant in Kansas

Walmart said on Tuesday it would invest $257 million to open a beef-packing plant in Olathe, Kansas in 2025, which would create more than 600 jobs.

The facility will package and distribute cuts of the higher grade Angus beef from Sustainable Beef LLC. Walmart had acquired a minority stake in the ranch-based beef processing plant last year, which is expected to be functional in late-2024.

The company's investment plans come at a time when...

Olymel Shutters Hog Production Facilities in Western Canada Due to Financial Losses

Olymel continues to consolidate its hog operations due to steep financial losses and overall uncertainty in the hog and pork markets. On Friday, the company announced the closure of its hog production facilities in Alberta and Saskatchewan, both located in Western Canada.

The latest decision will impact about 80 employees and will result in the closure of five sow units in Alberta along with one sow unit in Saskatchewan.

This reduces Olymel's western sow herd from 57,000 to 40,000 sows in production and will result in a net...