South Central FS will soon take feed production to the next level in southeast Illinois says a report at thexradio.com.
The cooperative unveiled its new, state-of-the-art feed mill near Watson, IL, at an open house this week.
The new multispecies mill features a 4-ton mixer, with the ability to mix 60 tons of feed per hour, two roller mills to process corn, the ability to pellet feed and a 100,000-bushel grain bin.
The current facility, built in 1990, has a 2-ton mixer and was running 24 hours per day to keep up with demand.
“This is in response to an ever-changing livestock marketplace,” said Phil Westendorf, feed marketing manager for FS Total Livestock Services, the feed marketing division for South Central FS, M & M Service Company, Gateway FS and Southern FS.
“Our current feed mill has some age on it,” he noted. “We were needing to do something different.”
The new mill will continue to focus on serving the needs of independent livestock producers.
Total Grain Marketing, a sister company, will supply all the corn to the mill from the region.
“The nice thing from a location standpoint is we’re very close to other elevators (to source the corn),” Westendorf said.
The new mill, constructed to meet Food Safety Modernization Act regulations, allows for more ingredient options to benefit farmer-customers.
The boiler that will be used for pelleting will also be used to heat the building and the fat storage tank.
The open house was held for customers, neighbors and other interested parties to see the new mill and its technology prior to its opening, which should occur within the next month.
