House of Raeford Farms, Rose Hill, N.C., announced that construction would begin this summer on a new feed mill for its Arcadia, La., complex.  The $40 million facility, to be located in Simsboro and Lincoln Parish, La., will be capable of producing 12,500 tons of feed weekly, thus doubling the capacity of the current mill.

The company will also make $7 million worth of building modifications and add new equipment to the hatchery in Gibsland, La., and to the processing plant in Arcadia. As a result, the complex will add more than 100 new jobs, and live production will contract for 86 new poultry houses over the next two years.

“House of Raeford is committed to our operations in Louisiana, as evidenced by these major capital expenditures and planned employment increases,” says Bob Johnson, chief executive officer. “In keeping with the growth objectives of our company, our Louisiana complex is also the first of our locations to offer No Antibiotics Ever chicken products to our customers.”

Construction of the feed mill will take 18 months to 2 years to complete.