Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
The morning of Tuesday, June 16, was a memorable morning for Madison County, especially for Doug Brown and the rest of the Madison County Development Council (MCDC). This was the morning of the long-anticipated groundbreaking for BioActive Forages, a new manufacturing facility being built on Dale Leslie Drive, near Lee. The event was attended by many people from the community, as well as leaders on the local and state level. Although it is obviously difficult to predict an accurate date for construction completion, Brown said mid to late 2027 could be an accurate estimation.
Once complete, the new 30,000 square foot production plant is expected to produce over 42,000 tons of high-quality forage pellets that will feed ruminant animals, such as cattle, goats, sheep, etc., as well as horses. The facility will use legume crops and other nutrient-dense materials and pelletize them to make feeding much more efficient than using bulk hay. This will be of benefit to not only the farmers that grow these crops, but to cattle ranchers and producers alike. Richard Cone, of Cone Family Farms spoke during the groundbreaking ceremony stating the new plant will be beneficial with a great cost-saving in fuel costs alone for his local farm that produces hay. It is anticipate that BioActive Forages will employ approximately 25 full time workers in their early stages and that number is expected to more than double as the plant expands.
BioACtive Forages co-founder Dr. Greg Stewart, a veterinarian who also raises sheep, spoke of the “three Rs” that guide his philosophy on doing business and farming. “It should be reasonable, responsible, and respectful,” said Dr. Stewart. It was also noted that Dr. Stewart is a man of deep faith who has a passion for caring for the land and creation, seeing farmers as important stewards of both.