By Patti Wilson Contributing Editor
The long-awaited opening of Sustainable Beef LLC at North Platte, Neb., commenced May 28, with full production in the new facility expected during the winter 2026.
Bolstered by positive input from Walmart, the plant is slated to turn out high-quality beef, primarily from local sources, to serve the exacting standards of one of the nation’s largest grocery chains. The retail giant also owns a minority stake in Sustainable Beef and has representation on the board of directors.
The original idea of this enormous plan was hatched in fall 2019 by Nebraska rancher Rusty Kemp of Tryon. He was soon joined by several other serious cattle producers anxious to make a huge difference. I visited with Kemp earlier this spring. He explained that serious planning began with the help of then-Governor Pete Ricketts, who was instrumental in getting the project on its feet. Kemp explained that the idea was “too ambitious” to take on among themselves, and help from a government official provided a necessary positive role.
Even then, it took a good six to eight months to make initial decisions and develop procedures. Kemp was quick to point out that the plant is designed with room to expand. He is also proud of his wife, Rachael’s, input and ideas. She was employed by IBP and later Tyson before her marriage to Kemp. He related that “she knows more about the packing industry than I do.”
About the Plant
Spawned by the incidence of “black swans,” random, unrelated events that wreak havoc within our industry, Kemp and other cattle producers realized they needed to step out and be aggressive in protecting their family businesses. The Holcomb Plant fire in 2019 and the COVID 19 pandemic caused grief on a wide scale, triggering a shortage of kill slots at packing plants. The “cow that stole Christmas” (aka Mad Cow) in 2003 is another excellent example.
The group in Nebraska got serious about building a packing plant. According to Kemp, “This one plant isn’t going to fix the whole thing. We’re not looking to take on the big four packers, but there’s a lot of room between a 5,000-head-per-day plant and your local butcher. “
The facility sits one mile north of Interstate 80 on the east edge of North Platte. According to a March 19, 2021, article in the Tri State Livestock News, Sustainable Beef will employ 875 people and harvest up to 1,500 cattle per day. Most slots will be held by subscribed cattle from ranches and feedlots within a 200-mile radius. Seventy percent of sales will be domestic and 30 percent international. The plant will run only 8-hour day shifts and 40-hour work weeks. The facility itself encompasses 550,000 square feet, Employment is open to U.S. citizens or legal residents.
The Community
Along with industry comes people. The influx of employees and their families into the community will no doubt necessitate some adjustments. Housing and schools are always hit hardest by these changes. Although North Platte is currently short of housing, this problem is being addressed in a timely manner by private entities. Additionally, Kemp says there are nearly 1,400 seats available to fill in the local school system. He reports that management is ”thrilled” by the number of incoming job applications. The plant is expected to have a $1.5 billion impact on North Platte.
