Savage Co.-owned agribusiness Bartlett announced this week that work has commenced on its new, $375 million soybean crush plant in Montgomery County, KS. The facility has a planned handling capacity of 45 million bu/yr of soybeans, which will be processed into soy meal and refined soybean oil.

A groundbreaking event was held on June 17 to mark the start of construction. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, Kansas State Rep. Jim Kelly, and other notable civic figures.

“We are excited to start construction on our soybean crushing plant in Montgomery County. The facility will be an economic driver in southeast Kansas and expand markets for local soybean producers and agribusinesses,” the firm’s president, Bob Knief, said in a release. “We appreciate the ongoing support from state, federal, and local leaders, and look forward to serving a vital role for the food, animal feed, and renewable fuel industries. We’ll support our nation’s transition to renewable transportation fuels annually, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 400,000 tn/yr.”

Located near Cherryvale, KS, the facility is situated near several highways. South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad will provide rail services to the site. 50 new jobs will be created with the opening of the plant.

“Agriculture-based and renewable energy businesses are major economic drivers in Kansas, and I am extremely pleased to see Bartlett recognize just how ideal this location is for the future of their operations,” Gov. Kelly said in a statement. “Powered by Kansas’ outstanding infrastructure and talented workforce, I’m confident Bartlett’s new project will be a tremendous success and have a significant economic impact on the region and our state as a whole.”