South Dakota Soybean Processors is building a new 35 million bushel soybean and sunflower processing plant south of Mitchell.  Ethan, South Dakota farmer and South Dakota Soybean Processor Board Member Lewis Bainbridge says this will be their third processing facility in the state.  It’s an opportunity for area farmers to increase the value of their crop or invest in the plant.

He says the processing facility has been in the works for the last few years.  They chose the Mitchell area because of the opportunities to buy both soybeans and sunflowers and there are many large livestock operations in the area to utilize the meal.  However, soy processing margins also played into their decision, especially with the demand for soybean oil for the food market and for renewable diesel.

Bainbridge says they are confident in being able to source enough beans for the plant, despite newly announced projects in Nebraska and North Dakota.

SDSP is planning to have the plant operational in fall 2024 or spring 2025.