USA: Jefferson Grain Processors buys a Cargill Malt plant in Jefferson

Jefferson Grain Processors, LLC announced on October 13 that it has agreed to buy the plant and assets of the Cargill Malt in Jefferson and plans to convert the site into an ethanol plant, fish farm and electric co-generation facility. The company has already signed a letter of intent to purchase Cargill Malt of Jefferson.

JGP plans to invest over $200 million into converting the malting plant on the 375 acre site into a multi-use facility ethanol plant, a tilapia fish farm, and an electric co-generation component Cargill Inc., Minneapolis, is closing the plant this month, resulting in the loss of 74 jobs.

Jefferson Grain said the changes will add 150 jobs in Jefferson.

Jefferson Grain expects the ethanol plant to produce 140 million gallons per year, making it three times larger than any other ethanol facility in Wisconsin.

The malting platforms in the plant will be turned into the largest tilapia fish farm in the United States, producing over 8 million pounds per year of fresh filets. The fish will be processed on site, adding to the employment impact. The company is also exploring the production of food grade corn oil as part of the process.

Terms of its purchase of the assets were not disclosed.