-March 5,2022-
Bowing to negative reaction from residents and city officials from Lemoore, Sandridge Partners told the City at a special meeting last week they would withdraw their plan to have a feedlot next to their proposed beef harvesting plant. The plant would be located near Hwy 41 and 198, outside the city limits.
The county is processing the application for a 826-acre cattle feedlot and slaughterhouse. Instead of allowing up to 12,600 cow feedlot, the plant holding pen would limit the number of head to a few days supply- 125 to 250 animals. Residents speaking at the meeting, said they were worried about flies, smells and water pumping on the so near the community. A letter from the city to the county argued the project with the feedlot would have a “very negative impact” on the livelihoods of city residents and the operations and investments of the city’s businesses.
City Manager Nathan Olson said nearby business, several marijuana growers said they had “no problem” with the project if the feedlot was left off.
In addition Olson said the company promises not to do any rendering to the plant.
After discussion, council decided to keep their opposition letter to the entire project since it would be up to the county to revise and recirculate any modified project for comments if the feedlot is removed.
But Olson herself, who is a big economic development advocate, argued in a press story “I really don’t see any downside to the beef harvesting plant, and if we could ever get that, it would be a great one to annex,” said Olson. He suggested that the facility could generate two to three million dollars in retail every month or
$24 million in retail sales. The facility would feature a retail store selling fresh meat conveniently located on the main Valley to the Coast highway.
Olson stated that the facility might net the city $300,000 to $500,000 per year. “If we could get it into the city, that’s good money.” This assumes annexation.
Spokesman for Sandridge Partners, Jim Wilson said Sandridge has various feedlots around the area where animals could be housed but would require just in time truck deliveries to keep the harvesting plant stocked.
Wilson says there is a time element in all this because the company is applying for new USDA grants and loans to help small meat processors expand. The application has a late March deadline.
Looking to simulated competition in the beef packing business the Biden administration is offering up to $1 billion in various funding opportunities to help affect beef prices
“Capitalism without competition isn’t capitalism, it’s exploitation,” Biden said. “That’s what we’re seeing in meat and poultry.” Four large meat packing companies control 85% of the beef market. The top four processing firms control 54% of the market in poultry. And in pork, the top four processing firms control about 70% of the market according to reports
In the Valley, consolidation last year created what has been described as the 7th largest meat packer in the nation when Hanford- based Central Valley Meat acquired Harris Ranch Beef. Indeed, the sprawling Harris Ranch feedlot lot has been suggested as what Lemoore does not want nearby. The feedlot along Hwy 5 spans 800 acres with up to 100,000 cattle.
Sandridge’s proposed feedlot was to cover 215 acres designed for a maximum of 12,600 cattle, lots smaller.
The Sandridge beef harvesting plant includes approximately 72,000 square feet of building space consisting of livestock loading areas, a kill floor, coolers, cold storage, dry storage, a cut room, offices, and employee space.