Thursday Iowa Premium Beef held the ribbon cutting for its Tama processing plant. Private investment of $40 million has been spent renovating and adding on to the 200,000-square foot Iowa Quality Beef facility, which closed in 2004. Iowa Cattlemen’s Association Executive Director Matt Deppe says the packer plans to start processing cattle by November 3.
In phase one Iowa Premium Beef will buy $650 million worth of cattle and Deppe says they’re excited to have another high quality market for Iowa cattlemen.

The plant will market beef to domestic food service outlets and will also have the option to sell to clients in 40 countries.
Operations will begin with 600 employees, but at peak production that could grow to 1,000 workers. Tyson earlier owned the plant.