CHS to build US$700M soybean processing plant
Construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks, with the facility targeted for completion in fall 2028.
USA – CHS Inc. has announced plans to construct a US$700 million state-of-the-art soybean processing facility near Evansville, Wisconsin, as the farmer-owned cooperative seeks to expand domestic oilseed processing capacity and create additional market opportunities for US-grown soybeans.
The major infrastructure investment aims to expand the cooperative’s domestic oilseed crushing network, capture growing demand for plant-based proteins and renewable fuels, and create direct market access for Midwestern soybean growers.
Construction on the high-capacity facility is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks, with full operational status targeted for fall 2028.
The new Evansville plant will have the capacity to process 80 million bushels of US-grown soybeans annually, strengthening CHS’s ability to supply growing demand for soybean oil and soybean meal.
Once fully operational, the site is projected to produce approximately 1 billion pounds of soybean oil and 2 million tons of soybean meal each year.
This added throughput will expand CHS’s overall soybean processing capacity by more than two-thirds, complementing its established oilseed operations in Fairmont and Mankato, Minnesota.
The strategic selection of Evansville addresses a long-standing structural processing bottleneck in southern Wisconsin.
The region boasts high soybean yields and dense regional livestock and dairy operations that require a steady supply of soybean meal.
Furthermore, Evansville offers direct multimodal transportation logistics, including robust rail networks, major highways, and river corridors, enabling efficient distribution of crude and refined soybean oil to expanding food, livestock feed, and bio-energy markets worldwide.
Beyond expanding crop demand, the mega-project will deliver a substantial socio-economic boost to rural southern Wisconsin.
Construction activity will support an average of 250 contractors and skilled trade workers over the 24 to 30-month build timeframe, peaking at 400 workers on-site.
Upon completion, the facility will generate approximately 80 permanent, full-time jobs with competitive benefits.
The investment comes amid efforts to expand US domestic agricultural processing and strengthen demand for locally produced commodities.
The American Soybean Association and Wisconsin Soybean Association welcomed the project, noting that additional crushing capacity could provide farmers with another nearby buyer while strengthening markets for both soybean oil and meal.
Alongside other recent capital commitments, including a phosphate fertilizer joint venture, the Evansville plant underscores CHS’s strategy of investing in domestic crop-input and processing infrastructure to support rural economies and strengthen the agricultural supply chain.
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