Farm Fresh Beef from Southern Illinois

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Saline River Farms Provides Project Update on Southern Illinois Beef Processing Initiative

Creal Springs, Ill.  January 21, 2026— Saline River Farms today provided an update on its USDA-inspected beef processing initiative in southern Illinois, reaffirming its continued commitment to strengthening domestic beef supply chains, supporting rural economic development, and advancing the project in a disciplined and compliant manner.

Saline River Farms was publicly announced in late 2022 as a USDA-inspected beef processing project intended to expand domestic capacity and enhance supply resilience. In August 2023, the project advanced with a public groundbreaking attended by state leadership and federal partners, reflecting alignment with those objectives.

Since that time, conditions within the U.S. beef sector have continued to evolve, including ongoing herd contraction, processing bottlenecks, and increased volatility across supply and logistics networks. In response, Saline River Farms has refined its development strategy to advance the project as a fully vertically integrated operation, rather than a single-facility build.

Vertical integration is intended to coordinate cattle sourcing, processing, and logistics as a single system rather than relying on fragmented third-party components. This approach is designed to improve supply certainty, operational efficiency, traceability, and long-term sustainability in a changing market environment.

To support this evolution, the company has been focused on foundational work required for responsible execution, including detailed engineering and facility design, environmental review and regulatory coordination, engagement with processing, logistics, and technology partners, and alignment with applicable state and federal program requirements.

“This phase of work is essential to ensuring the project is constructed and operated in a manner consistent with regulatory standards, market realities, and long-term operating needs,” said Saline River Farms’ Chief Communications Officer. “Large-scale agricultural and processing developments involve multiple interdependent stages, and careful sequencing at this point is critical to long-term success.”

Saline River Farms also addressed public commentary regarding state and federal support associated with the project. All grants connected to the initiative are structured on a performance-based, reimbursable basis. Grant funds are not disbursed unless and until the company has first deployed its own capital and the related expenditures have been fully documented, verified, and approved by the administering agencies. Any tax incentives or credits tied to the project are not realized or exercised until the facility is fully commissioned and operational, consistent with standard practice for projects of this scale.

“Saline River Farms remains fully compliant with all applicable program requirements and reporting obligations,” the Chief Communications Officer added. “The company has intentionally structured the project to align with these frameworks while remaining responsive to evolving market conditions.”

Saline River Farms remains committed to southern Illinois, its public partners, and the broader goal of strengthening U.S. beef supply chains. Additional updates will be provided as engineering, construction, and operational milestones are achieved.

Media Inquiries:
herd@salineriverfarms.us