(Audubon, Iowa) – Landus, Iowa’s largest farmer-owned cooperative, and AMVC, the ninth-largest pork producer in the United States, today announced collaborative plans to build a new feed mill at the existing Landus grain facility located in Hamlin (Iowa). Officials say through this partnership, AMVC will own and operate the feed mill. Landus will be responsible for originating grain for the project through its network of local farmer-owners.

Matt Carstens, President and CEO of Landus, says “We are proud to demonstrate the power of partnership as we introduce this collaborative model to the local feed landscape. By working together from the start, Landus and AMVC have developed an optimized approach that allows each party to focus on its strengths while better meeting the unique needs of our differing stakeholders. This improved model gives AMVC better control of their long-term biosecurity and traceability requirements, while Landus can focus on sourcing and delivering quality grain from our farmer-owners. By working together, we can both responsibly invest where it makes the most sense; for Landus that means using farmer-owner money in the most effective way possible.”

The proposed feed mill will produce up to 400,000 tons of swine feed per year. It will generate demand for roughly 8.5 million bushels of corn, and 48,000 tons of soybean meal annually. Corn demand will exceed the capacity of the existing Landus grain storage in Hamlin, allowing Landus the opportunity to leverage its nearby grain assets, including a site in Panora, Iowa, which was recently acquired through an asset swap with Heartland Co-op, to supply corn to the new mill.

Dr. Steve Schmitz, veterinarian and managing partner at AMVC, said “AMVC is excited to align with Landus, a like-minded agriculture organization committed to enhancing our rural economies. Landus will provide AMVC the expertise to source and deliver quality grain from local farmers, allowing us to better leverage our strengths of professionally raising and feeding pigs. The establishment of this feed mill will maintain and increase long-term agriculture value for crop producers and pork producer stakeholders within Audubon County. This partnership also adds to the overall economic growth of the community by creating short and long-term employment opportunities. For over 30 years, AMVC has been committed to investing in livestock production and animal wellbeing. This investment furthers our pursuit to feed the world through our local communities.”

Once fully operational, the mill will employ up to eight full-time personnel and generate demand for an additional 14 local truck drivers. AMVC currently anticipates project completion by Summer 2024. Additional updates will be provided to the public as this project progresses.