S.D. beef plant clears final financial hurdle

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — A beef processing plant in South Dakota that has struggled to begin operations says it has enough finances to get to full production.

The Northern Beef Packers plant in Aberdeen began production on a limited basis last fall. Land for the $109 million plant was secured in 2006, but numerous problems including financial issues, lawsuits and flooding repeatedly pushed back the opening date.

Spokeswoman Laure Swanson tells the American News (http://bit.ly/UCvTda) Northern Beef Packers has now raised more than $150 million, an amount that includes the working capital the plant needs for full operation. The plant eventually will process 1,500 cattle a day from the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota.

Northern Beef has hired more than 350 workers and eventually will employ 500. It also is continuing to add customers.