Value-Added Investments Grow Agriculture

August 15, 2017

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by Gov. Pete Ricketts (York News Times) Investments in the area of value-added agriculture are helping to grow our state’s number one industry. Many people think of traditional row crops when they think of agriculture, however, modern-day technology and innovations are helping the industry add value to Nebraska’s traditional commodities.

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The ethanol industry is another great example of value-added agriculture in Nebraska. Nebraska is the second largest ethanol producing state in the nation. In the past two years, ethanol plants in Jackson, Fairmont, Adams, Columbus, and Kearney have invested approximately $190 million in new technology as they increase capacity and diversify their products. In addition to the billions of gallons of ethanol manufactured each year, these facilities also produce distillers’ grains, corn oil, corn syrup, dry starch, and specialty livestock feeds. The billions of bushels of corn consumed by the state’s ethanol plants each year support demand for our quality Nebraska commodities.

While Nebraska’s ability to produce corn has not only attracted ethanol plants to the state, our ethanol plants, like Cargill in Blair, in turn have attracted bioscience companies such as Novozymes to Nebraska. Novozymes produces enzymes for renewable fuels. Recently, the Denmark-based company announced that it plans to invest $36 million to expand its facilities in Blair. The Cargill campus in Blair also recently attracted a $200 million investment from Evonik, a German company that will produce omega-3 fatty acid oil, drawing on raw commodities in the area. READ MORE

Efficiency, value-added ag create success at Husker Ag (Norfolk Daily News)