Prestage Farms Still Plans To Build A Pork Plant In Iowa

City council members in Mason City this week turned down a proposed $240 million  pork processing plant after approving it twice on a 6-0 vote.The proposal by North Carolina-based Prestage Farms ended in a 3-3 tie. It needed four “yes” votes to pass.

One of the company's executives, Ron Prestage, says they will continue to seek an Iowa location. He says all four counties surrounding Cerro Gordo (where Mason City is located) have expressed an interest.

Prestage says his company has operated hog finishing facilities in Iowa since 2004, which currently produce about 700,000 hogs a year.  He says most are located in North-Central Iowa, which is why Prestage wants to locate a processing facility in that part of the state.

To read the rest of the story, please go to: Iowa Public Radio