Protein Sources LLP Meeting April 29 2014

April 29, 2024 Preliminary Meeting with Protein Source LLP, Keith Chisholm and Gary, MN Farmers, County & Local reps to explore the possibility of putting two swine farms in the Gary, MN area.

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1. A preliminary meeting was held with Protein Sources LLP of Mapleton, MN, local Gary farmers and some

government representatives on Monday, April 29, 2014 at 10AM at Keith Chisholms Star of the North office in

Gary, MN to hear the proposal of putting 2 Swine Farms in the Gary Area.

a. Protein Sources Management provides professional swine production system management services to

independent producers in the Upper Midwest. (www.ProteinSources.com)

b. To see detailed pictures of Protein Sources LLPs building process and the use of one of their swine

facilities, go to www.facebook.com/GourleyPremiumPorkLLC where the building process and current

use is detailed in pictures.

2. The next step

a. After the preliminary meeting, the local townships agreed to call township meetings so those citizens

living in the area of the proposed building sites could have their questions answered and any concerns

addressed. Local papers will note the times of the township meetings. They are tentatively slated to be

held in mid-May for Strand, Sundal and Spring Creek townships.

b. Garry Johanson of NC Environmental Services has been involved with the swine farm building process in

Southern Minnesota in the past. He laid out this general plan as follows:

i. Township meetings

ii. Conditional Use permits will have to be secured through Norman County and once conditions

are met, the Norman County Board will have to approve the plans.

1. Taken into consideration will be watershed/drainage plan which are included in the

engineers drawings.

2. Kevin Rude of Norman County Watershed will be brought up to speed by Garry

Johanson.

3. Soil & water safety consideration: Mark Christianson of Norman County Soil & Water

District was at the meeting and will be directly involved with assuring engineering meets

soil and water safety standards.

4. Road use/tonnage concerns and maintenance plans will have to be addressed for both

locations. Townships will likely have more questions in that regard. See more details

below

5. Operating hours may be in place

iii. PCA out of the Detroit Lakes office will be contacted but may be or may not be involved in the

process depending on a variety of scenarios.

3. The preliminary meeting at Star of the North included two of the family business owners Paul and Pat

FitzSimmons of Protein Sources LLP (www.proteinsources.com) Farm Management and Consulting Services, PO

Box 308, 503 Silver St. E. Mapleton, MN 56065 Phone 507-524-4511 and a representative group of Gary area

farmers, Norman County officials and local representatives.

a. Protein Sources LLP is a family owned company that currently employs 250 people across Southern MN,

85 of those employees work in their home office in Mapleton, MN.

i. They currently manage approximately 35,000 sows in Southern MN and Iowa, most of them

within a 70 mile radius of Mapleton, MN but they are expanding.


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b. Protein Sources LLP is currently expanding its business through North Dakota, South Dakota and in to

northern Minnesota.

i. Norman County was chosen because it is not a saturated area for the hog business. Because of

this, it is deemed to be less apt to host any diseases that could affect the sows.

1. The Sows are kept in a contained building that is kept as a bio security type clean

environment to ensure their good health. Employees must shower in/shower out to

enter any of their facilities.

ii. Gary, MN specifically was chosen because of a mutual acquaintance of both Protein Sources and

Keith Chisholm. Keith owns the property available that will work for their requirements.

4. Pat and Paul FitzSimmons opened the meeting and introduced their family owned company, Protein Sources LLC

to the local farmers. The FitzSimmons family is generational farmers from Southern Minnesota where they

farm about 1000 acres. The family also is swine farmers and consultants to the industry. See their website for

more details.

5. Location of the build: Their proposition is to build two locations on properties located by Gary, MN. Their

property would total two acres at each site. Other than the building site, the farmland would still be owned

Keith Chisholm.

a. One is proposed to be built on Section 12 of Strand Township (off of the 34, 1 mile N of highway 19 and

a mile west).

b. The other is proposed to be built on Section 19 of Sundal Township off of county Rd 5 and the township

road 350 by the old Swenson farm.

6. Employment & Economic Impact

a. The estimated cost upon completion for each location is $6 to $7,000,000 for a total of $12-$14,000,000

b. The overall tax base will increase for both local and county areas.

c. Many locals that currently drive a distance to work could be gainfully employed locally.

d. Though most employees can come from the local area, we could also expect an increase new residents

resulting in an increase to our school base and finances going into construction, local grocers,

mechanics, gas and banking businesses.

e. Other farm and feed support businesses would increase as well such as feed grinders, feed suppliers,

equipment suppliers etc.

f. Each farm location would employ approximately 7 full time employees for a total of 14 plus a general

manager, a truck driver and some part time employees for evenings and weekends.

i. A full benefit package including health and dental care is offered to the employee and 50% cost

of the family benefits should they choose to receive family benefits.

ii. The pay will be equal to prevailing wages paid in Norman County. The estimate is $12 entry

level plus benefits but the final salary is not yet set.

iii. Most jobs would be dayshift hours.

iv. Pat FitzSimmons estimated that about 60% of their current 250 employees are female as the

farm schedule seems to fit well with theirs.


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g. Feed and goods would be purchased locally

i. Corn farmers, grinder stations, feed lots etc would benefit

h. A small population increase could be assumed that should benefit our schools, the current housing

market and possibly new homes being built.

i. The building construction, process and footprint

i. To see a detailed pictures of one of their buildings and the construction go to

www.facebook.com/GourleyPremiumPorkLLC

1. Drawings of the proposed buildings, the inside layout and plans were made available

but the FB page of Gourley Premium Pork has very good pictures including the building

process, the completed building inside and out as well as the use of the facility when it is

full of sows and piglets.

ii. Each building would sit on 40 acres total owned by the swine farm and would measure 230 x

440 Office space is additional.

iii. They will be completely contained in the structure.

iv. Cement is the main product used in the building. It is built to withstand an F4-F5 tornado and

because of its construction for the most part it is fire proof.

v. A sealed holding tank for the manure would be located directly below the building structure.

1. The manure is sold and used as fertilizer.

2. A manure tank hose (can extend 3 to 4 miles) is used to address road usage concerns at

the plants.

3. Enclosed storage helps to keep the nutrients in the manure. Sow manure contains 12 to

15 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 gallons of manure

4. There has never been a leak noted to this date as the pressure of water on the outside is

greater trying to get in than the manure on the inside pressing out.

5. Tiles are placed around the tank and are checked two times a year.

vi. The smell was a concern: Technology has come a long way since many of the locals raised pigs.

The manure is stored under the building in a contained tank. When the manure is put on the

fields it is pumped through a hose. When it is directly applied, the smell is minimal as it is put 6

directly into the ground.

vii. Bio Security is taken very seriously. All employees or visitors must shower in/shower out to

keep any germs away from the sows. Clothing worn in the facility is laundered and kept in the

facility at all times.

viii. Bulk storage bins will be housed on the property for feed etc.

ix. Compost bins are also in use at their facilities.

j. The Sows, their water & feed intake

i. Each facility would house 2500 sows

1. Approximately 50% of the stock is turned over annually to assure continued healthy

sows for breeding.

ii. At any one time 400 sows are nursing piglets, 2000 females will be at different stages of

gestation.


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iii. The sows would be bred through artificial insemination at these locations.

iv. Weaned piglets (at approximately 15 lbs) that are 21 days old are shipped to a finishing farm

down to southern Minnesota to be fattened up for sale.

v. Approximately 6 gallons of water per pig per day or 8000 gallons a day.

vi. Each sow eats approximately 23 bushels of corn per year

7. Those in attendance at the preliminary meeting:

*(Other late comers may have come after the group was initially introduced or some missed)

A. Pat Fitzsimmons of Protein Sources LLP

B. Paul Fitzsimmons of Protein Sources LLP

C. Garry Johanson of Norman Co. Environmental Services, 816 E. Main, Ada. MN 56510, Email:

[email protected], Cell Phone 218-474-0004, Office 218-784-5493

D. Mark Christianson of Norman County Soil & Water District. 100 Main Ave E Twin Valley ,

PO Box 60 Twin Valley, MN P: 218-584-5169, Fax 218-584-5667 , E: [email protected]

www.normancountyswcd.org

E. Marvin Gunderson, District 1 Norman County Commissioner, 4515 340th Ave.,

Fertile, MN 56540, (218) 945-6288 E: [email protected]

F. Karie Kirschbaum, Mayor of Gary, www.GaryMN.com, cell: 505-507-7219

E: [email protected], 207 Broadway, Gary, MN. 56545

G. Mark Chisholm, Strand Township

H. Gene Strobel, Strand Township

I. Gene Hanson, Sundal Township

J. Jerry Chisholm, Strand Township

K. Dennis Sannes, Sundal Township

L. Rodney Sannes, Spring Creek Township

M. Richard Sannes, Spring Creek Township

N. Norm Gullingsrud, Strand Township

O. Keith Chisholm, Green Meadow Township

P. Myron Stene, Sundal Township

Q. Aaron Werpy, CHS Feed of Fertile

Protein Sources LLP Meeting April 29 2014

Documents

Transcript of Protein Sources LLP Meeting April 29 2014