Farms.com Home  › News

JBS Breaks Ground on New Iowa Facility, Strengthening U.S. Pork Processing

JBS USA has broken ground on a major new pork processing and sausage production facility in Iowa, representing a significant investment in the company’s growing prepared foods business and its long-term commitment to the U.S. pork industry.

Strengthening Iowa’s Pork Network
The new facility will play a key role in expanding JBS’s value-added pork capacity, focusing on advanced sausage production and integrating directly with the company’s network of plants in Ottumwa, Council Bluffs, and Marshalltown. It will also link to JBS’s upcoming ready-to-eat bacon and sausage plant in Ankeny, creating a seamless regional supply chain from fresh to fully cooked pork.

This strategy reduces transportation costs, improves efficiency, and supports Iowa’s leadership role as the heart of America’s pork industry.

Economic and Industry Impact
Construction of the new plant will create hundreds of temporary jobs and several hundred full-time positions once operational. The investment delivers major economic benefits to the local community while ensuring steady demand for regional hog production.

The facility will feature modern automation, food safety, and sustainability standards—underscoring JBS’s commitment to innovation and long-term operational excellence.

Driving Value-Added Growth
Consumer demand for convenient, high-quality pork products continues to rise. JBS’s new facility supports this trend, allowing the company to expand its portfolio of ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products for retail and foodservice customers.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

How AI Is Changing Family Hog Farms | Duane Stateler on Technology & the Future of Pork Production

Video: How AI Is Changing Family Hog Farms | Duane Stateler on Technology & the Future of Pork Production

Artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape pork production, and longtime pork producer Duane Stateler believes the industry is only getting started.

Recorded at World Pork Expo 2026, Stateler shares how technology has already transformed modern hog farming—from automated barn climate control and feed monitoring to real-time alerts—and explains why AI will play an even bigger role in improving animal care, efficiency, and decision-making.

As a fifth-generation hog farmer, he also discusses the importance of family farms, succession planning, labor, and how technology is helping today's producers care for more animals while maintaining high welfare standards.

In this interview:

The future of AI in pork production

How smart barns improve pig care

Feed bin monitoring and automation

Labor challenges and family farming

Why technology is shaping the next generation of producers