Perdue AgriBusiness recently opened Pennsylvania’s first large-scale, commercial soybean processing plant in Bainbridge, PA. The opening creates both an in-state market for soybeans and source of soymeal for livestock and dairy farms while tapping into existing waste-to-energy to bring a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over current operations.
“This plant builds on Perdue’s investment in Pennsylvania and our commitment to Pennsylvania farmers,” said Perdue Farms Chairman Jim Perdue, who was joined by Gov. Tom Wolf and state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, along with renewable energy partner Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA) executives, local elected officials, community leaders, farmers and others, to cut the ribbon and open the plant just in time for the fall harvest.
“It also sets a new standard in terms of community investment, economic potential and environmental gains,” Perdue said. “We truly appreciate all of the support we received from the governor and his entire administration to get this project up and running. This plant demonstrates our shared commitment to ensure agriculture remains strong and farmers have every advantage they need to remain competitive.”
Perdue AgriBusiness invested more than $60 million to design and construct the plant. It is the first large-scale commercial soybean processing plant to open in Pennsylvania. The commonwealth provided an $8.75 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant as part of its standard economic development portfolio to attract investment and create jobs.
“This plant is a game changer for farmers in Pennsylvania, opening new lanes of supply, new markets, and new opportunities in the commonwealth’s agriculture economy,” Governor Tom Wolf said. “My administration is committed to making sure that the agriculture economy is strong, and working for our commonwealth’s farm families and businesses.”
Once operational, the plant will support 35 long-term posts and spur an anticipated 500 additional jobs in crop production and transportation.
With a storage capacity of 1.5 million bushels, the grain elevator will receive, dry, store and ship soybeans that are grown and harvested throughout the region, as the adjoining plant processes the beans. Seven of the top 10 soybean producing counties are located within 50 miles of the plant.
“When the state committed to this project, it did so because we recognized the importance of investing in our agricultural infrastructure and the opportunities it held for Pennsylvania’s farmers,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “This plant is going to create new demand for soybeans grown in Pennsylvania, provide greater marketing options, and it’s going to offer another close-to-home supply of processed soybean meal farmers can use to feed our growing livestock industry.”
