040410 Beef processing plant to open in June

Oakland, MS - It's a mad race to the finish as operators of a Mississippi Beef Processing plant continue to plan for a June production date.

"We are 80% done with the project," said owner Richard Hall Jr. "But there are still a lot of little details to trim out because there are always issues to deal with on a day-to-day basis."

Hall said about 80% of the expected 415 employees has been hired. The key positions that still needs to be filled are experienced beef boners.

"Most of the folks that have been hired are coming from within a 20-mile radius of the plant," Hall said. "Most of the beef boners are working now and they won't leave their job and move until production time gets a little closer. They can't be without a paycheck too long."

A training for most of the workers is tentatively scheduled to begin 30 days before the Yalobusha County plant opens.

The plant will be off U.S. 51 in Oakland. It will process hamburger and prime cuts of meat.

Hall expects to slaughter and process 1,000 head of cattle each day once the construction is completed.

"All kinds of folks have come by to talk about when we're going to open and how many we're going to buy," Hall said. "We're big advocates of the Mississippi cattle producer and we want to buy locally first. I want all the local farmers, ranchers and dairy men to know that they can sell directly to us."

The 2002 Legislature created a plan that guaranteed a $21 million loan to Hall for the plant's construction. Hall also got a $5 million grant from the Mississippi Land Water and Timber Resource Board.

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