Soybean Processing Plant to Open in Michigan this Year

A new soybean processing plant with a processing capacity of 40 million bushels/yr is expected to become operational this year in Ithaca, MI. The site’s owner, ZFS Ithaca LLC, announced Monday that construction work on the facility is nearing completion and should be opened by the 2019 soybean harvest.

The company describes the 435-acre facility as “Michigan’s largest soybean processing facility,” containing soybean processing assets, feed ingredients transloading capabilities, and grain receiving and storage areas. ZFS Ithaca’s plant also includes two dump pits that can handle up to 20,000 bushels/hr of soybeans, that will allow the firm to speed up receiving during the harvest season.

“Testing and commissioning of the truck scales and grain equipment will take place this summer, well in advance of the harvest rush,” ZFS Ithaca General Manager Eric Meeuwsen said in a company press release. “Work on the processing plant is in full swing and, as we move through the summer, we will focus on dialing in the systems to ensure the plant is ready for commissioning later this year in preparation for the start of our soybean crushing operations.”

Michigan’s annual soybean processing capacity will be boosted to over 50 million bushels/yr with the opening of ZFS Ithaca’s plant, according to the company, which is about half of the crop grown in the state annually. 

“Just like the first soybean processing plant in Zeeland that has been in operation for two decades, the new facility in Ithaca will boost local soybean prices for Michigan farmers, serve as a convenient, reliable source of soybean meal and hulls for livestock producers and allow Michigan’s agriculture sector to tap into growing markets at home and abroad for soy products,” Michigan Agri-Business Association President Jim Byrum said in a statement.

About 75 new jobs will be created with the opening of the new facility in Ithaca. ZFS Ithaca is a part of Zeeland Farm Services Inc. 

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