Cargill Pumps $200M into Wichita Wheat Line Expansion

WICHITA, Kansas (Day.News) — Cargill, the Minneapolis-based agribusiness giant with deep roots in Kansas, announced a $200 million expansion at its Wichita soybean processing plant to add a dedicated wheat production line. The upgrade, which breaks ground in early 2026, will increase wheat processing capacity by 20%, allowing the facility to handle more of Kansas' premier hard red winter wheat. Company officials say the investment responds to surging national demand for wheat-derived starches and proteins used in food manufacturing and plant-based products. The Wichita plant, located in the heart of Kansas' agribusiness corridor, already employs hundreds and processes soybeans alongside other grains. This expansion mirrors Cargill's recent $475 million U.S. soy initiative announced in March 2021, which included doubling soybean unload capacity at the Wichita site with added automation and safety upgrades. 'Wichita remains central to our protein and grain strategies,' said Cargill spokesperson Brian Sikes, noting about 900 employees work in the company's local protein group headquarters at 151 N. Main St. Local leaders hailed the news. Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple's office confirmed ongoing negotiations for city incentives, similar to the $38 million industrial revenue bonds approved in prior years for Cargill's biodiesel plant. The project aligns with Kansas' wheat harvest peaking at over 300 million bushels annually, positioning the state to capture value-added processing amid global shifts toward sustainable grains. Completion is slated for late 2027, with first wheat-based product shipments expected in early 2028.