Raising Funds

A group called the Riel Trail Cattle Feeders Inc. is in the middle of putting together funds for a proposed feedlot in a location 5 miles north of Chamberlain.

RTCF President Phil Sanden says the winter months were not successful when it comes to fundraising.

"We weren’t very successful in raising investment this winter. We had hoped to raise a large portion of what we needed and that didn't happen so we are going to spend another winter trying it again and see if we can't come up with enough investment to start construction."

Sanden says they will be working on a plan "B" as well.

"I think one of the other things we are going to do is we are going to have some discussions with the ethanol council and see if there is some kind of interest to take a look at putting in an ethanol plant on the side of the feed lot and a portion of your crop rotation is value added through that side as well. We will also come out this fall with new share offerings.

Of course, one of the keys to success would be working with the ethanol industry.

"I think the interesting think now is with these bio-fuels in the news, you can value add some of your barley through a custom feed lot as well as some winter wheat or CPS wheat through the ethanol side and perhaps if there is a bio-diesel plant built in the area, you can value add some oil seeds as well so you are starting to talk about a major portion of your rotation value added kind of at home if you will and I think those are kind of exciting things."