FREMONT, Neb., June 14, 2021 (Newswire.com) –
Wholestone Farms, a farmer-owned pork processor, has secured property in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, located near the intersection of I-229 and Benson Road within an
appropriately zoned industrial park. Wholestone Farms plans to develop the purchased land into a new, state-of-the-art pork harvest and processing facility.
The project value is estimated at over $500 million and will initially employ over 1,100 people.
“Wholestone Farms and its farmer-owners have a strong culture of corporate citizenship and with many of
our members currently living and doing business in the area, we look forward to being a preferred
employer and impactful participant in the Sioux Falls community. ” – Dr. Luke Minion, Board Chairman,
Wholestone Farms.
About Wholestone Farms
Wholestone Farms was established in 2018 to create and capture value in the pork supply chain.
Wholestone Farms is owned by our 200 members who are independent family farmers raising
livestock and crops in the upper Midwest. We collectively farm nearly 400,000 acres of cropland, raise
12 million pigs annually and share a vision to continue the legacy of family farming. We are proud of
what we do, the food we produce, and we are deeply committed to sustainable agriculture and the
rural communities we live in.
Wholestone Farms Sioux Falls
Q&A
Project Overview
• New, state-of-the-art harvest and processing facility to be located near I-229 & Benson
Road.
• Approximately $500 million Investment
• 3 million hogs processed annually in 8-hour shift
• 1,000 plant professionals for 8-hour shift. Plant professional hourly wages from $18/hr.
– $30/hr. subject to market conditions and positional requirements.
• 50-100 office and administrative team members
• Subject to market conditions, earliest construction start in 2022. Construction period is
2.5 years minimum.
Economic Impact
How will this project impact the regional economy?
Wholestone Farms is locally owned by 200+ farmers, 75 of which are within 50 miles of Sioux
Falls. We anticipate the annual economic impact to the Sioux Falls MSA to be in excess of $1.5
billion.
South Dakota is an ag-based state. This project will not only have a significant impact on the
agriculture industry, but also other industries including, but not limited to, restaurant and
hospitality, transportation and wholesale trade, real estate, healthcare and other service
industries. These industries and others all stand to benefit greatly, on an ongoing basis, as a
result of our operation.
Workforce
How many new jobs, and what are the anticipated wages?
Wholestone Farms will employ 1,000 plant professionals for an 8-hour shift. Plant professional
hourly wages will be from $18/hr. – $30/hr.+ subject to market conditions and positional
requirements. 50 -100 office and administrative professionals will also be employed at
Wholestone Farms. Employer paid benefits will include medical, dental, vision, life insurance,
AD&D, HAS, FSA, Short and Long Term Disability, 401k, and an Employee Assistance Program.
Employee welfare is very important at Wholestone Farms. We are and will continue to be an
employer of choice that will provide area workers a highly automated, hygienic, and safe work
environment.
Housing
How might Wholestone Farms support community housing initiatives?
Wholestone Farms will be a significant, new employer. We’re sensitive to the housing needs of
the community and our future employees. With a minimum of 3 years to plan for our project,
we’re prepared to help the community leverage the increased tax base that will be realized as a
result of our project to help provide for additional housing support. There are a multitude of
ways to support the housing needs in the community, and our team is open to those ways as
determined best by the Sioux Falls community. We want to be part of the solution, and would
challenge other major employers in Sioux Falls and the region to join us in this effort.
Wastewater, Odor, and the Environment
How will the company manage its wastewater?
Wholestone Farms is committed to being a good steward of the environment. We plan on
investing over $45 million in a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system that will exceed
current and future compliance limits set forth by the EPA and the State of South Dakota. This
includes accounting for significant reductions of total nitrogen (including ammonia) and
phosphorous. Additionally, the wastewater system will be designed to capture biogas and
reduce overall carbon emissions of operations, while managing air quality and minimizing odor.
System reliability and on-site stormwater management will be paramount including stopgap
measures to virtually eliminate the impact of upset events including those resulting from major
rain events.
How will you manage odor?
The wastewater system will include covered lagoons. It will be designed and maintained with
the latest technologies to minimize odor. Livestock delivery trucks will also be scheduled and
staged to minimize odor. A truck wash is also planned on-site.
Wholestone Farms’ entire operation will be designed to exceed the Title V air permitting
requirements for the State of South Dakota. Our design will incorporate wet scrubbers and
thermal oxidation technologies for emissions and odor control. These technologies, combined
with good management practices, will provide many distinct advantages to older facilities.
What other environmental considerations are being accounted for in your site design?
The site surrounding the new facility will include low impact design features such as
bioretention cells, vegetative swales, native plantings, buffer strips, and other green solutions
that result in cleaner air, water, and improved habitat. While the surrounding land uses are
industrial in nature, our farmer owners are sensitive to designing an operation that is
environmentally conscientious.
Transportation/Traffic
Segments of Benson road, including the Benson & I-229 interchange (near Wholestone Farms’
site), currently need additional capacity. This capacity will be provided by adding additional
lanes on Benson Road and reconfiguring the interchange to better serve projected traffic
volumes. At present, the SDDOT, City of Sioux Falls, and their transportation engineer have
intentions of initiating design in preparation of road/overpass reconstruction tentatively
planned for 2023.
Additionally, Wholestone Farms’ site will be designed to minimize the impact of truck and
employee traffic on surrounding roadways and nearby businesses by creating strategic access
points and thoughtful separation of traffic streams.
Surrounding Land Uses
What are the surrounding land uses near the proposed facility?
The new facility will be located in an appropriately zoned industrial park. Significant
surrounding land uses include Gage Brothers Concrete, gravel pits, industrial parks, and the
nearby Sioux Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant. Wholestone Farms was very deliberate in
identifying a site that has compatible surrounding land uses and can accommodate the traffic
that is associated with a major operation like we’re looking to operate.
Community Engagement
Wholestone Farms will be an active and engaged corporate citizen. We intend on setting up a
new office in Sioux Falls and engaging with civic, business, environmental, and non-profit
leaders well in advance of commencing construction of our facility. We have every intention of
working closely with groups such as, but not limited to, Lutheran Social Services, the MultiCultural Center,
Sioux Falls School District and other stakeholders in an effort to provide future employees and their families the resources necessary to optimize their full potential in the
community. Wholestone Farms has a rich tradition of being engaged and supportive of area
non-profits in the communities where we operate.
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