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Upgrades increase availability of locally made livestock feed.
A $2.4 million capital investment will boost production capacity at the Purina Animal Nutrition plant that has been making livestock feed in Mason City, Iowa for 56 years. The upgrades will increase availability of locally produced feed to farms in northcentral and northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota.
"Purina Animal Nutrition has been making feed for animals in Iowa and Minnesota at this plant for decades, and our modernization project will help us continue to do so," says Wesley Fiddelke, plant manager at the Purina Animal Nutrition Mason City, Iowa facility. "Agriculture is a major economic driver in this region, and we are proud to be in a position to keep growing and working with our local agricultural community."This Purina Animal Nutrition feed manufacturing facility makes 364 products in different forms for many styles of farm operations. Purina's goal is to develop feed products that help animal owners unlock the greatest potential of every animal.
"The products we make in Mason City are backed by 125 years of nutrition research and innovation," Fiddelke says. "Our feed is formulated by a team of experts who work with animals every day and are committed to bringing out the best in each one."
Most of the feed made at Purina Animal Nutrition in Mason City, Iowa is sold to farmer-owned cooperatives within a 120-mile radius of the plant. The local facility makes feed for swine, dairy cattle and beef cattle, as well as sheep and poultry.
What's new in Mason City
"A feed plant is like an enormous kitchen making meals for thousands of animals," Fiddelke says. "In addition to making the feed, we also buy and store ingredients used in manufacturing while following tight quality-control measures. With new, more modern equipment, we will be better suited to meet the needs of our customers."
The modernization project will increase the amount of young animal feed the plant can make each year by 25 percent. Changes leading to this increase include additional finished feed storage, faster load-out for customers and more powerful, efficient pelleting equipment.
Increasing pelleting capacity is important for this plant, which services key dairy and swine production areas in Iowa and Minnesota. Feeds in pelleted forms are commonly fed to growing pigs and dairy calves. Pelleted feeds make up 60 percent of the plant's production output.
Local expertise
In addition to making a capital investment in the Mason City manufacturing facility, Purina Animal Nutrition has shifted resources to increase technical support for local customers including farms and farmer-owned cooperatives. The company has added a dairy calf and heifer specialist and a young animal swine specialist in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. Both specialists will provide on-farm support to help dairy farmers and pork producers maximize their nutrition and management programs.
"Purina leads the industry in young animal nutrition research. Producers can make good use of that research through our feeding programs for dairy calves and young pigs. They can also tap into that research through our local young animal technical experts," says Dan Moran, senior director of swine feed marketing for Purina Animal Nutrition. "Our investment in the Mason City, Iowa plant brings added confidence that local producers can access the quality products they need to optimize their success."
Learn more about products and services for dairy farmers and pork producers in northcentral and northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota at www.purinaproof.com.
Purina Animal Nutrition LLC (www.purinamills.com) is a national organization serving producers, animal owners and their families through more than 4,700 local cooperatives, independent dealers and other large retailers throughout the United States. Driven to unlock the greatest potential in every animal, the company is an industry-leading innovator offering a valued portfolio of complete feeds, supplements, premixes, ingredients and specialty technologies for the livestock and lifestyle animal markets. Purina Animal Nutrition LLC is headquartered in Shoreview, Minn. and a wholly owned subsidiary of Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Because of factors outside of Purina Animal Nutrition LLC's control, individual results to be obtained, including but not limited to: financial performance, animal condition, health or performance cannot be predicted or guaranteed by Purina Animal Nutrition LLC.
9.06.2016
