NOPA Member Bartlett Celebrates New Soybean Processing Plant
Bartlett hosts grand opening for its new Cherryvale, Kansas facility
CHERRYVALE, Kan., Sept. 20, 2024 – The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), the trade association representing the U.S. soybean, canola, flaxseed, safflower seed, and sunflower seed crushing industries, yesterday joined member company Bartlett to mark the grand opening of the company’s new soybean processing plant in Cherryvale, Kansas.
The processing facility is capable of handling approximately 49 million bushels of soybeans annually to crush into soybean meal and refined soybean oil. The plant will create more than60 permanent jobs.
“It was an honor to join Bartlett’s leadership at this monumental event. The significant investments being made by NOPA members like Bartlett are enabling the industry to support our domestic processing needs and meet increased demand for feed, food, biofuel, and industrial use products,” said Kailee Tkacz Buller, NOPA President and CEO. “Bartlett and the new Cherryvale crushing facility are playing a leading role in the paradigm shift happening in the U.S. soybean supply chain. NOPA members seek to buy and crush more U.S. farmer grown beans for domestic use. On behalf of the NOPA Board of Directors and Executive Committee, congratulations.”
“Bartlett is pleased to be a member of NOPA, a highly respected trade association that represents the majority of the oilseed processors in the United States,” said Bob Knief, Bartlett President. “With the start of operations at our new soybean processing plant in Cherryvale, Kansas, we’re confident membership in NOPA will help support and facilitate our trade of oilseed products into the food, feed and renewable fuel markets.”
NOPA members have collectively invested $6 billion to expand U.S. crushing capacity by nearly 30 percent relative to 2023 installed capacity and are on track to support domestic production of an additional 1.4 billion gallons of renewable diesel and biodiesel, also known as biomass-based diesel (BBD), by 2030.
NOPA members now crush over 95 percent of all soybeans processed in the United States, the equivalent to over 2 billion bushels annually. NOPA aspires to soon represent 100 percent of U.S. soybean crush capacity.
As Bartlett begins processing soybeans regularly, its NOPA membership will switch from provisional to full member. NOPA is excited to have been on this journey with Bartlett and officially welcomes them to the full NOPA membership.
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Organized in 1930, the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) represents the U.S. soybean, canola, flaxseed, safflower seed, and sunflower seed-crushing industries. NOPA’s membership includes 17 members that are engaged in the processing of oilseeds for meal and oil that are utilized in the manufacturing of food, feed, renewable fuels, and industrial products. NOPA member companies operate over 70 softseed and soybean solvent extraction plants across 21 states. NOPA members crush over 95% of all soybeans processed in the U.S. which equates to over 2 billion bushels annually. More information at www.NOPA.org.
Established in 1907, Bartlett joined the Savage family of companies in 2018. Its diverse agribusiness is focused on the acquisition, storage, transportation, processing, and merchandising of grain. The company is a leading U.S. exporter of grain to Mexico. Bartlett produces a broad range of flour to meet its customers’ needs and plays an important and growing role in the food and renewable fuel sector with its soybean processing capability. More information at www.bartlettco.com.