CHS to build Wisconsin soybean processing plant

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MINN. — CHS plans to construct a $700 million soybean processing facility near Evansville, Wis., significantly expanding the global agribusiness’ ability to meet growing demand for soybean oil and meal.

The facility will have the capacity to process 80 million bus of US-grown soybeans annually, expanding the cooperative’s oilseed processing capabilities and creating new market opportunities for owners, CHS said in its Sept. 14 announcement. With construction slated to begin soon, the plant is targeted for completion for fall 2028.

“Investments like this help CHS create additional value for our owners and customers by expanding market access, strengthening our processing network and creating new demand opportunities for US-grown soybeans,” said John Griffith, executive vice president of agriculture business and CHS Hedging. “Strong demand across food, feed and renewable fuel markets, coupled with policies that encourage domestic processing, manufacturing and energy production, reinforce the need for additional soybean processing capacity in the United States. This facility positions CHS to support farmers and customers for years to come.”

The Evansville facility will increase soybean processing capacity in southern Wisconsin, a region with strong soybean production and significant demand for soybean meal from livestock producers, CHS said.

When operational, the facility is expected to employ about 80 people and produce approximately 1 billion lbs of oil and 2 million tons of meal annually. Evansville’s proximity to soybean production, rail service and major transportation corridors makes it well positioned to support the movement of soybean meal and oil to domestic and global markets.

“For Wisconsin soybean farmers, this investment represents something we have been working toward for years: stronger demand for the crop we grow right here at home,” said Doug Rebout, president of the Wisconsin Soybean Association. “Additional processing capacity gives growers another reliable market close to the farm and helps create long-term opportunities for Wisconsin soybeans in both meal and oil markets.”

CHS said the new facility also will complement the company’s existing oilseed processing operations. In Hallock, Minn., CHS processes 525,000 tonnes of canola seed annually. In Fairmont and Mankato, Minn., CHS processes approximately 119 million bus of soybeans. When the facility becomes operational, the company’s soybean processing capacity will increase by more than two-thirds.

The investment is expected to generate significant economic activity through construction employment, permanent jobs, increased demand for locally produced soybeans and expanded market opportunities for regional farmers.

“CHS is committed to being a long-term partner in the communities where we operate,” Griffith said. “This investment supports rural economic development, creates jobs and strengthens the agricultural supply chain for producers, customers and communities across the region.”

CHS, a global agribusiness and the largest farmer-owned cooperative in the United States, operates diversified agronomy, grains, foods and energy businesses with revenues of $35.5 billion in fiscal year 2025.