Agriculture touches the life of every person, whether it is in our daily meals, the fuel we use to power our vehicles, or the clothes we wear each day. Agriculture is the life-blood of South Dakota, and its No. 1 industry contributing more than $30 billion annually to our economy.

Sioux Falls wouldn’t be the prosperous city it is today without agriculture, and I am excited to have Wholestone Farms call Sioux Falls home. This modern plant will provide a much needed local market for area hog producers, and provide needed stabilization to our food prices and our overall food security.

Earlier this month, I visited Prestage Foods in Eagle Grove, Iowa. Opened in March of 2019, the company invested in technology to reduce the plant’s impact on the environment. They implemented bio filters that help scrub odor from the air and robots take care of the most physically demanding jobs. These improvements have drastically eliminated the odor issues and the labor-intensive jobs that come with the pork processing territory. I was there, and I can tell you first hand, it didn’t stink. This is modern day, environmentally friendly plant, and this is what we can expect from the Wholestone Farms operation in Sioux Falls.

LETTER: Hogs in the woodchipper

The Wholestone Farms location is perfect. In fact, it’s a stone’s throw from our wastewater plant, and other heavy industries. In Oct. 2017, the City Council unanimously approved an ordinance rezoning 325 acres south of E. Benson Road and east of Interstate 229 to heavy industrial zoning. Semi-trucks will enter and exit onto our interstate system avoiding city streets and rural county roads. Contrary to the fear tactics used by some, the city of Sioux Falls has the necessary water and sewer infrastructure. I suggest these individuals visit with city officials and/or watch city council meetings to learn the facts rather than play to fear.

Let’s stop the attacks on agriculture. Instead, let us work to strengthen our food security, and promote this farmer owned business.

Please vote NO on the proposed Slaughterhouse ordinance.

Curt Soehl
Sioux Falls City Councilor