Ag Processing Inc. (AGP) announced that it continues to achieve progress on construction of its state-of-the-art soybean processing facility in Aberdeen, S.D., and anticipates a 2017 groundbreaking at the site.

The new facility will be the 10th soybean processing plant for the cooperative and its first in South Dakota.

“We are pleased to report that the engineering design and regulatory approval phase for the new facility in Aberdeen has gone extremely well to date and that we will break ground on the construction phase of the project in the spring of 2017,” Keith Spackler, AGP chief executive officer, said. “State and local officials have been excellent partners throughout this process, and we look forward to continued good relationships on this project as we move to the next phase.

"Feedback from our members and farmers in South Dakota has, likewise, been extremely positive and encouraging," Spackler added. "The new facility will begin processing soybeans in 2019 as originally planned.”

AGP chief operating officer and group vice president Cal Meyer said, “AGP moved forward on this project in large part due to the unique combination of attributes for the Aberdeen location: plentiful soybean supplies, a great community for our workforce, strategic infrastructure considerations and favorable transportation capabilities. In fact, management received board approval for final project plans that included design improvements for expanded capacity in July 2016.”

Meyer added that once operational, the plant will create approximately 50 jobs and will have a positive impact on local and regional economic development opportunities.

AGP is a major U.S. soybean processor/refiner that produces and markets soybean meal, refined soybean oil and biodiesel. Its businesses also include agricultural product trading in domestic and international markets and numerous U.S. grain elevator operations. AGP is owned by local and regional cooperatives representing farmer-producers across the U.S., and its corporate headquarters are located in Omaha, Neb.