Farmers Union Processing + Meats
Call 218-895-MEAT (6328) to book your cattle and hog processing.
Farmers Union Processing + Meats opened June 2, 2026
STAPLES, Minn. – Farmers Union Processing + Meats opened for business June 2.
The more than 10,000-square-foot meat processing facility slaughters cattle and hogs. The facility is available for custom-exempt processing and is working toward gaining USDA certification in July.
“We are proud to be part of the Staples community and look forward to working with farmers to process their livestock locally and provide them with a high-quality product they can take home and enjoy,” said Robb Kasal, plant manager.
The plant grew from a need identified by livestock producers in the five-county region of Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties. The region lacks USDA-inspected meat processing capacity and custom-exempt processors, causing bottlenecks for producers to harvest their livestock and limiting their marketing opportunities. The plant took several years to come to fruition and brought together several partners, including:
- Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence
- Region 5 Development Commission.
- United States Economic Development Administration
- United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service
- Agricultural Utilization Research Institute
- Happy Dancing Turtle
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Central Telephone Company
- The Small Business Development Center
Ground was broken for the facility in June 2025. Hy-Tec Construction of Brainerd was the lead contractor on the $8 million project and Widseth was the project architect.
“This project started when members in several counties identified a lack of meat processing capacity,” said Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) President Gary Wertish. “A meat processing facility is a critical asset for farmers who want to add value to their farm by adding livestock. The opening of Farmers Union Processing + Meats is a celebration of persistence and working together to create a more resilient local food system.”
To learn more about Farmers Union Processing + Meats or to book your slaughter dates, call 218-895-MEAT (6328).
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About Farmers Union Processing + Meats
Farmers Union Processing + Meats is a meat processing facility located at 901 Prairie Ave. N.W., in Staples, Minn. The more than 10,000-square-foot facility processes hogs and cattle.
Farmers Union broke ground June 6, 2025, for meat processing plant
Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) broke ground for Farmers Union Processing + Meats in Staples on June 6.
A groundbreaking was held June 6 for Farmers Union Processing + Meats in Staples.
Farmers Union Processing + Meats will be a state-of-the-art, USDA-compliant meat processing facility for primarily beef and pork located at 901 Prairie Ave. N.W. in a Staples industrial park. The more than 8,000-square-foot facility will employ up to 15 people when fully operational and partner with Central Lakes College and Ridgewater College to provide training and internship opportunities for students studying meat processing and butchery.
Future Site of Farmers Union Processing + Meats
“This project beautifully illustrates the power of grassroots membership driving action at the state and national level,” said MFU President Gary Wertish. “MFU members raised the issue of a lack of meat processing infrastructure in 2019 and COVID-19 elevated the issue. MFU members called for more investment in meat processing at the state and federal level. Lawmakers responded and both levels of government made investments in this vital part of local processing infrastructure. MFU is proud to work with partners from across the political spectrum at all levels of government in addition to private sector supporters to bring Farmers Union Processing + Meats to fruition.
“MFU looks forward to working with livestock farmers in the Staples area to provide a USDA-compliant meat processing facility, which will open new market opportunities to them,” Wertish continued. “In addition, we are proud to work with Central Lakes and Ridgewater colleges to train the next generation of meat processors and local locker plant owners. We hope this facility serves as a catalyst for rural economic development in the region.”
Hy-Tec Construction of Brainerd is the lead contractor on the $8 million project and Widseth is the project architect. Construction is anticipated to start this month with a tentative opening date of January 2026.
Project partners include:
- Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence
- Region 5 Development Commission.
- United States Economic Development Administration
- United States Department of Agriculture, Ag. Marketing Service
- Agricultural Utilization Research Institute
- Happy Dancing Turtle
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Farmers Union Enterprises
- Farmers Union Industries
- Central Telephone Company
- The Small Business Development Center
Farmers Union Processing + Meats celebrated groundbreaking for the new meat processing facility on June 6.