Rancher's Choice Gets Environmental License

WINNIPEG - Jun 28/06 - SNS -- A proposed beef processing plant by Rancher's Choice has been granted an environment licence, Manitoba's Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced today.

"The BSE crisis in 2003 illustrated quite clearly the importance of building domestic slaughter capacity," said Struthers.

"While the U.S border has reopened to live Canadian cattle, many producers in Manitoba have not forgotten the devastating consequences a single closed border had on our cattle industry. This is why it is so important for slaughter capacity to expand in our province and I am pleased to see this project taking another step toward completion."

The planned cattle-processing facility, to be located near Dauphin, will expand slaughter capacity in the province, allowing Manitoba cattle producers to ship processed beef to other provinces and the U.S.

To support the new plant, a waste-water treatment facility will need to be constructed. Environmental review of this development is in process. The Rancher's Choice project will also undergo a federal environmental screening.