Amarillo, Texas-based Caviness Beef Packers has formed a joint-venture with the J.R. Simplot Company to build a new Idaho beef processing plant near Kuna, Idaho.

Pending approval of permits from all necessary regulatory agencies, construction of the nearly 300,000 square foot plant would begin in spring 2015 with an expected fall 2016 opening.

The new joint-venture will operate under the name, CS Beef Packers, LLC. The joint venture is expected to invest $100 million to complete construction of the plant.

The primary purpose of the plant will be to harvest cull cows and bulls from Northwest dairy farms and cattle ranches throughout the Intermountain West. The plant will also include hide and rendering processing and have the ability to process niche-fed beef programs.

Scott Simplot, J.R. Simplot Company chairman, said the new plant will be the first significant processing operation in the region, reducing the need for dairy farmers and ranchers to ship cattle out of the area for processing.

It’s estimated that there are more than 600,000 dairy cows and more than 600,000 beef cows in the region.

“This effort complements the area’s dairy industry including milk, cheese and yogurt processors,” Simplot said. “Our company has farmed and ranched in the area for nearly a century and we’re excited to be a part of this joint-venture that will further guarantee the long-term success of the region’s dairy and beef industries.”

Terry Caviness, Caviness chief executive officers said Simplot and Caviness are both family-owned companies that complement each other.

“Together we will bring significant strengths and expertise to this project,” said Caviness. “We look forward to being a valued partner to area ranchers and dairymen as we expand our footprint in the United States with another world-class beef packing facility.”

Demand for beef is at an all-time high. The new plant will take advantage of advances in food safety and process technologies to create a processing facility that incorporates the best available technologies to effectively process beef safely and humanely. The final product will be prepackaged boxed beef that will primarily be marketed toward food-service suppliers and retail outlets.