Northeast North Dakota might be the next to get a new custom slaughter and processing plant.
Julius Wangler of Grafton, N.D., is chairman of the Pembina Walsh Meat Processing Committee, laying groundwork for what is expected to be a $1.7 million effort. It's been in the planning stages for about 16 months. If everything goes as planned, construction could start in June 2015, he says.
Wangler says leaders surveyed producers and found there is a market to handle about 20 animals per week in that area -- a bit larger than the plant in Bowdon. He says the plant will process cattle and hogs. Unlike Bowdon, his plant would likely process deer.
"Throughout the years, there's been quite a few custom slaughter plants closing, either because their facilities were very old or the owners just wanted to retire and had a hard time passing it on," Wangler says, noting the region has missed plants that have closed in Hallock, Minn., and Park River and Munich in North Dakota. Wangler expects to have a business plan available in mid-May and public meetings in late June.
For information about the potential company, contact Wangler at 701-360-1000.
