Bell Aquaculture announced today plans to open a feed mill to supply feed for the local and national aquaculture industry. The new mill, located at Bell Farms in Albany, Indiana, will be the first of its kind to locally produce feed to service the aquaculture industry on a mass scale using local Indiana ingredients.
Scott Nelson of Integral Fish Foods, recently purchased by Bell, will be the head of operations for the mill. Scott brings 30 years of experience in fish feed production, and will provide Bell with the expertise to produce feeds specific to fish species and key periods in the life cycle of the fish.
The mill is expected to begin production this April with a production capacity of 2.2 million pounds per month, sourcing 50-60% of ingredients locally. "Our mill will benefit the county and the state by providing jobs and increasing demand for locally produced soybeans and grains, while also providing feed to support the growing local aquaculture industry, " said Norman McCowan, President & CEO of Bell Aquaculture.
The mill is expected to generate up to 25 new jobs over the next 36 months, while reducing the need for local aquaculture industry to source feed from remote locations, thereby completing a cycle of sustainable aquaculture for local supply and demand.
When asked how the mill would affect local soybean farmers, ISA President Dave Lowe commented, "The opportunity for aquaculture is immense. We have needed this mill in Indiana to have the ability to source feed locally for quite some time. There are thousands of tons of ingredients for feed within a very short distance of Bell. It is time that the general population, counties and state benefit from the tax base and revenue stream that this mill will provide."
