New Iowa Packing Plant to Open on July 21

The Iowa Quality Beef Supply Cooperative harvest facility in Tama is scheduled to open July 21.

“The Iowa Quality Beef Supply Cooperative can be proud of this project. Its success is based on the people involved and their commitment to seeing this plant open,” said Carl Kuehne, president of American Foods Group. The Green Bay, Wis., company is partnering with the IQBS Co-op in the plant operation and product marketing.

Kuehne and Wythe Willey, chairman of the Iowa Quality Beef Supply Cooperative board, shared the podium to announce the plant opening. They spoke to a crowd of 150 persons that included media representatives, cattle producers, co-op members, state officials and IQBS plant management.

 The 2003 equity drive will run from May 22 until Sept. 30, said Joel Brinkmeyer, president of the IQBS  Co-op.  The equity drive will open for all classes of cattle and will be valuable in operating the plant. Additional equity and cattle commitments will improve the overall financial stability of the co-op, improve the ability and timeliness to expand cattle harvesting numbers at Tama, and reduce unnecessary or excess procurement costs.

“The equity drive will also allow more independent cattle producers to participate in the project,” said Brinkmeyer.

Renovations and new construction on the harvest facility are about 90 percent complete. When the facility is fully operating, about 1,200 head of cattle will be processed daily; 624 people will be employed.