Source: Transforming the Farmer to Consumer Supply Chain news release
Thanks to a landmark climate-smart agriculture project, a new soybean processing facility will soon open its doors in western Kansas to process climate-smart soybeans. It is ultimately expected to help provide more climate-smart dairy products to consumers nationwide, according to project partners.
The new facility is the result of a partnership between McCarty Family Farms and the Transforming the Farmer to Consumer Supply Chain (Transform F2C) initiative. Transform F2C is a $70 million project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Program.
McCarty Family Farms plans to open the facility in late 2025 to roast soybeans grown with at least one in-field practice that helps build soil health, sequesters carbon and/or reduces greenhouse gas emissions. These practices include planting cover crops, reduced till or no-till, conservation crop rotation and nutrient management planning.
After roasting, the farm plans to feed the soybeans to its dairy cows. Under the Transform F2C project, local participating soybean farmers can enroll in a series of incentives designed to support the implementation of climate-smart practices and data-driven marketing of the climate-smart commodities. Transform F2C has contracted with Elmglade Farms, owned by McCarty Family Farms, for the processing and marketing of the beans.
“This project brings partners together from throughout the supply chain in a unique way to help close the loop and get climate-smart commodities to grocery stores,” said Nick Goeser, co-founder of Carbon A List, which administers the USDA grant. “By connecting growers, processors and retailers, we’re creating a pathway to bring more sustainable choices to consumers at scale in a way that also benefits family farms.”
The new soybean roasting facility will bring both economic and environmental benefits to western Kansas, generating jobs and building new infrastructure in the region, said farm co-owner Ken McCarty.
“We believe that this state-of-the-art soybean roasting facility will further our mission and help bring long-lasting value to our local community,” McCarty said. “This innovative collaboration will provide agronomic benefits to our farmer partners while creating sustainable feed ingredients for our cows. We are excited to see the positive impact this project has on our sustainability journey.”
McCarty Family Farms and Transform F2C held a grower meeting earlier in December in Colby, Kansas to discuss opportunities for local growers to participate in the program. More than 40 growers attended.
About Transforming the Farmer to Consumer Supply Chain (Transform F2C)
Funded by the USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities and led by Carbon A List, Transform F2C collaborates with industry leaders to create sustainable, end-to-end supply chain partnerships for climate-smart commodities. The initiative focuses on empowering farmers, boosting climate resilience, and delivering climate-smart products to consumers. For more visit TransformF2C.com.
About McCarty Family Farms
McCarty Family Farms, located in Northwest Kansas, is owned and operated by fourth-generation dairy farmers Mike, Clay, Dave, and Ken McCarty. Established over a century ago, McCarty Family Farms has grown to include five dairy farms, a milk condensing plant, and a grain storage facility. Dedicated to sustainable agriculture, McCarty Family Farms continuously seeks innovative practices to benefit the environment and local communities.
