NEW MADRID, Mo. – Increased demand for soybeans has prompted Beck’s to begin construction on a soybean processing facility in New Madrid, the company said.

The facility will be built in phases, with warehousing expected to be completed over the winter, Jim Herr, Beck’s processing/inventory/wholesale manager, told Farm World. The processing part of the facility should be completed in fall 2026.

The company decided on the New Madrid location because “soybean quality is good in that area for seed production,” he said. There’s “a welcoming community situated nicely to serve the Mid-South.”

The 60,000-square-foot facility will have a processing capacity of 3 million units of soybeans annually, Beck’s said. It will sit on 105.5 acres. Seventeen new jobs will be created in the first year, the company noted. Herr declined to share the cost of the project.

Beck’s will process soybeans within a two-hour drive of the facility, Herr said. The closest Beck’s soybean processing facility to the New Madrid location is in Neoga, Ill.

The company is “partnering with local soybean growers to produce high quality and reliable soybean seed supply for the region,” he explained.

Construction of the new facility demonstrates Beck’s commitment to local farmers and the agricultural economy in the Mid-South, the company said.

“We are thrilled to expand our presence in the Mid-South and put down roots in the New Madrid community,” Scott Beck, Beck’s president, said in a release. “This new facility represents our ongoing commitment to serving farmers by providing them with high-quality soybean products and elite customer service. We look forward to building strong partnerships in the area and supporting the growth of the agricultural industry for years to come.”

Beck’s has facilities in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska and Ohio. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Ind.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said he was proud to welcome Beck’s to the state.

“As a business owner and third-generation farmer, I’m thrilled to see an agricultural leader like Beck’s making such a significant investment in our state,” he said in a release. “This company’s presence in New Madrid will support the area’s economy, benefit local farmers, and further strengthen Missouri agriculture as a whole.”

Two New Madrid city officials welcomed the announcement.

“This exciting investment of millions of dollars not only brings new jobs to our community but also highlights our commitment to fostering a vibrant business environment,” the city’s mayor, Nick White, said in a release. “New Madrid is open for business, and together with Beck’s, we are planting the seeds for a prosperous future.”

Aaron Griffin, New Madrid city administrator, said in a release, “working with Beck’s has been and continues to be an absolute pleasure. They are a family-owned and operated organization that adheres to family values. They promote agriculture in innovative ways. New Madrid prides itself on having family values and agriculture as a part of its backbone. We humbly welcome them to our beautiful community.”