The new mill, far right, isn’t the only new facility at NEW Cooperative's Lidderdale location. In 2008, the company added two new bins that can each hold 365,000 bushels of grain, and a third bin of the same size was constructed in 2009.

LIDDERDALE – Construction is under way at NEW Cooperative’s Lidderdale location on a new $4.5 million feed mill that will serve swine producers within a 50-mile radius of the facility.

“We’re excited about this opportunity and are pleased with the support we’ve received from customers in the area,” said Elwyn Bruhl, feed manager, who noted that NEW is currently hauling a significant amount of feed to this area from the co-op’s mill in Palmer.

The new mill, which will produce swine feed only, has a capacity of 200,000 tons per year on a 10-hour shift, five days a week. The state-of-the-art mill will include a 4-ton, dual-ribbon mixer. This horizontal, twin-shaft equipment will provide a better, faster mix, compared to a single-shaft mixer, said Bruhl, who added that construction is on schedule for the mill, which is slated for completion in June 2010.

By Oct. 7, the slip-form process used to pour the concrete for the mill was well underway. The work takes eight to 10 days to complete, said Rod Brant, Lidderdale location manager, who noted that crews from Younglove Construction, of Sioux City, were working 12-hour shifts, 24 hours a day.

A building boom

Crews from Younglove Construction, of Sioux City, worked 12-hour shifts, 24 hours a day, on the slip-form construction of the feed mill.

Inadequate levels of quality milling capacity in the area prompted NEW to undertake the feed mill construction project, which began in late July. In addition to the mill, NEW is installing a corn storage tank that will supply the mill.

“Lidderdale offered the best location for our new mill, because there’s a good corn inventory in the region, and there are excellent hard-surface roads in the area,” said Bruhl, who noted the Lidderdale location became part of NEW Cooperative two years ago.

In addition to a computerized batching system, the mill will include a major scale for corn, soybean meal and distiller’s grains, and a minor scale for salt, calcium and more.

In addition, the mill will utilize a 24-bin microsystem for dry amino acids, minerals and pre-mixes. The mill will also have the capability for a dry-mix system plus liquid.

“This facility has the latest technology,” said Bruhl, who noted that the mill will be staffed by four to five employees. “An efficient, cost-effective feed mill will help us maximize the potential that exists in this area for our feed business.”

The new mill isn’t the only new facility at the Lidderdale location. In 2008, the company added two new bins that can each hold 365,000 bushels of grain, and a third bin of the same size was constructed in 2009.

NEW is also building a new seed warehouse, which will be ready to store seed this winter at the Lidderdale location.

Contact Darcy Dougherty Maulsby by e-mail at yettergirl@yahoo.com.