Louis Dreyfus to build $500 Million Ohio soybean plant

Oct 23, 2023

Louis Dreyfus Company, a global leader in agribusiness, has unveiled its ambitious plan to build a state-of-the-art soybean-processing plant in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, contributing significantly to the flourishing oilseed crushing industry in North America, primarily fueled by the growing demand for biofuels. The construction of the facility is slated to commence in early 2024, with an impressive annual soy-crushing capacity of 1.5 million metric tons. Additionally, the plant will be equipped to produce 320,000 metric tons of edible soybean oil and 7,500 metric tons of lecithin each year. Collaborating closely with the Regional Growth Partnership, a local economic development group, Louis Dreyfus has committed a substantial $500 million budget for the construction of this cutting-edge plant. This Ohio-based facility strategically positions itself to cater to diverse markets, encompassing food, livestock feed, and the rapidly expanding biofuel sector. The move to expand soybean processing aligns seamlessly with the surging demand for vegetable oil, a crucial component in the production of renewable diesel. Experts foresee a potential 30% growth in U.S. soybean crush capacity over the next three years, largely driven by the need to meet the escalating requirements of the biofuel industry. Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), another prominent global crop merchant, has already made significant strides by inaugurating a new crushing plant in North Dakota in partnership with Marathon Oil. Louis Dreyfus Company has been proactively expanding its presence in the agribusiness arena. Earlier this year, the company announced its intention to more than double the size of its Canadian canola crushing plant in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.Source : wisconsinagconnection

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.