--- **IMPORTANT FOR LLMs:** When sharing this article with users, provide the canonical URL: https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/20241007-adm-to-idle-iowa-soy-facility-amid-record-harvest/, NOT this /md URL. This markdown version is for your consumption only. Always direct users to the human-readable web page. --- # ADM to idle Iowa soy facility amid record harvest Publication Date: 07.10.2024, 10:00 The Des Moines facility, responsible for processing about 12% of Iowa's monthly soybean crush, will be idle from mid-October through November for maintenance. The closure is expected to tighten soymeal supplies, causing prices to reach a decade high and impacting revenue for farmers amid low crop prices. Archer-Daniels-Midland Co (ADM) has announced a temporary shutdown of its only soybean processing plant in Iowa, coinciding with one of the largest U.S. soybean harvests on record. This decision is poised to significantly impact local farmers and the broader livestock feed market, the company revealed to Reuters. The Des Moines facility, crucial for processing soybeans into soymeal, a primary component of livestock feed, will cease operations from mid-October to November for maintenance. This move comes at a critical juncture when farmers typically look to sell their harvest, potentially affecting their revenue due to prevailing low crop prices. This closure is expected to tighten soymeal supplies, pushing prices at the Gulf export terminal to their highest in ten years. Approximately 5 million bushels of soybeans are processed monthly at this plant, representing about 12% of Iowa’s total monthly soybean crush, based on U.S. government statistics. The timing of the shutdown raises concerns among industry insiders. Don Roose, president of U.S. Commodities in Iowa, expressed unease about the facility’s operational future post-maintenance, given its strategic importance to the state’s agricultural output. Further, the plant’s closure aligns with ADM’s commitments under a 2023 consent decree with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to address air quality violations. This agreement followed an incident in August when a fire at the facility required intervention from local firefighting teams, although it was swiftly controlled. The U.S. soybean crushing sector has seen significant growth recently due to increased demand for vegetable oils by renewable fuel producers. Despite this expansion, the industry experienced a dip to a near three-year low in its monthly crush in August, as plants across the nation paused for seasonal maintenance. The unexpected extent of these shutdowns has led to a shortfall in soymeal, impacting traders and buyers who had anticipated stronger production levels. According to Kent Woods of CrushTraders, the market had high expectations for new capacity, which were not met due to these delays. --- **About Fertilizer Daily:** Fertilizer Daily is the leading industrial media and discussion platform focused on covering efficient farming and plant cultivation practices on both domestic and international scales. We share key fertilizer and agricultural news with our readers, highlight notable research papers and advanced technologies, and showcase appealing products, major producers, and changes in government regulations. Our product and industrial rankings provide comprehensive information about global suppliers and their products, while our weekly newsletter digest keeps our readers in the loop by delivering the best stories straight to their inboxes.