frenchie
Well-known member
Saturday, Oct. 2, 2004
New packer picks site
this document web posted: Thursday, September 30, 2004 20040930p62
By Ian Bell
Brandon bureau
A group of Manitoba producers hopes to build its proposed slaughter plant for cull cattle in Dauphin, Man.
The Rancher's Choice Beef Co-operative wants to begin pouring concrete for the foundation and floor this fall and to have the plant operational early next spring.
The co-op is also negotiating to buy an existing plant and water treatment facility in Washington state that it could move to Dauphin.
"It's a good deal," said Garth Lussier, Rancher's Choice treasurer and a cattle producer from Reykjavik, Man.
"That plant has the technology we were looking for."
The Washington plant was built in the late 1990s, began operating in 2000 and was shut down last year because of its dependence on cows and bulls from British Columbia and northern Alberta, which can no longer be sold to the United States because of BSE concerns.
"That's not the only plant that has been closed in the United States," said Lussier. "There are several other plants that are running well below capacity or are closed."
Because of its design, the plant can be taken apart, moved and re-assembled.
Rancher's Choice is negotiating with a group of credit unions for part of the required financing. It has already raised close to $1 million through the sale of shares to producers and is counting on the province to commit at least $2.5 million.
"We're still trying to raise further funding from producers," Lussier said.
"I hope that the federal government comes along, but I'm not going to hold my breath for them."
Dauphin was one of three Manitoba locations that Rancher's Choice was considering after it abandoned efforts to buy and overhaul a hog slaughter facility in Winnipeg.
Dauphin and the surrounding rural municipality offered free land and other incentives. The 15 acres are located in what will become an extension of the city's industrial park.
Dauphin and the Rural Municipality of Dauphin will spend more than $1 million on water and sewer services if the plant is built. Incentives also include the equivalent of three years' grace on the municipal portion of property taxes.
Dauphin deputy mayor Jim Puls said the Rancher's Choice venture offers a chance to bring at least 70 jobs to the community, with the potential to add many more.
"The city of Dauphin used to be 10,000 people back in the early 1980s. Now we have 8,300. Anything we can do to encourage industry or business or anything that will help increase our population and create jobs is of the utmost importance."
Puls has toured the cattle slaughter plant in Washington state that Rancher's Choice wants to buy. He said he was impressed, noting the facility is state of the art.
"There's equipment in there you just won't find in many plants, especially the disinfecting. It's just above and beyond."
At one time, the Washington plant employed 110 people and processed 300 head per day, Puls said. It cost $14 million US and was designed to handle animals up to 3,500 pounds.
"They could even do large bulls and buffalo if they wanted to
New packer picks site
this document web posted: Thursday, September 30, 2004 20040930p62
By Ian Bell
Brandon bureau
A group of Manitoba producers hopes to build its proposed slaughter plant for cull cattle in Dauphin, Man.
The Rancher's Choice Beef Co-operative wants to begin pouring concrete for the foundation and floor this fall and to have the plant operational early next spring.
The co-op is also negotiating to buy an existing plant and water treatment facility in Washington state that it could move to Dauphin.
"It's a good deal," said Garth Lussier, Rancher's Choice treasurer and a cattle producer from Reykjavik, Man.
"That plant has the technology we were looking for."
The Washington plant was built in the late 1990s, began operating in 2000 and was shut down last year because of its dependence on cows and bulls from British Columbia and northern Alberta, which can no longer be sold to the United States because of BSE concerns.
"That's not the only plant that has been closed in the United States," said Lussier. "There are several other plants that are running well below capacity or are closed."
Because of its design, the plant can be taken apart, moved and re-assembled.
Rancher's Choice is negotiating with a group of credit unions for part of the required financing. It has already raised close to $1 million through the sale of shares to producers and is counting on the province to commit at least $2.5 million.
"We're still trying to raise further funding from producers," Lussier said.
"I hope that the federal government comes along, but I'm not going to hold my breath for them."
Dauphin was one of three Manitoba locations that Rancher's Choice was considering after it abandoned efforts to buy and overhaul a hog slaughter facility in Winnipeg.
Dauphin and the surrounding rural municipality offered free land and other incentives. The 15 acres are located in what will become an extension of the city's industrial park.
Dauphin and the Rural Municipality of Dauphin will spend more than $1 million on water and sewer services if the plant is built. Incentives also include the equivalent of three years' grace on the municipal portion of property taxes.
Dauphin deputy mayor Jim Puls said the Rancher's Choice venture offers a chance to bring at least 70 jobs to the community, with the potential to add many more.
"The city of Dauphin used to be 10,000 people back in the early 1980s. Now we have 8,300. Anything we can do to encourage industry or business or anything that will help increase our population and create jobs is of the utmost importance."
Puls has toured the cattle slaughter plant in Washington state that Rancher's Choice wants to buy. He said he was impressed, noting the facility is state of the art.
"There's equipment in there you just won't find in many plants, especially the disinfecting. It's just above and beyond."
At one time, the Washington plant employed 110 people and processed 300 head per day, Puls said. It cost $14 million US and was designed to handle animals up to 3,500 pounds.
"They could even do large bulls and buffalo if they wanted to