A new hog processing plant in Sioux City will ease slaughter capacity limitations and bring economic gains for Iowa and its hog farmers, Iowa Pork Producers Association President Dave Struthers said last week.

Construction of the joint venture by Seaboard Foods and Triumph Foods is expected to begin this summer, with construction completed by July 2017.

"As we see the demand for pork rise worldwide, we need to have ample processing facilities to meet those needs," said Struthers, a Story County Farm Bureau member. "There’s a real concern about increasing hog numbers and being able to handle that capacity. This announcement ...