Dari Processing expands with US$186M milk processing facility

USA – Dari Processing, a fourth-generation dairy company, has broken ground with the construction of a US$186 million milk processing facility in Seward County, Nebraska.

Founded by a team of fourth-generation Nebraska dairy farmers, DARI Processing LLC is building a facility to produce MOO’V Real Milk, a premium, ultra-filtered, lactose-free milk that’s high in protein and low in sugar.

These products, designed to have a shelf life of up to 12 months without refrigeration, are positioned to support markets with limited cold storage access, including food banks, schools, and global export channels.

The facility, spanning 236,000 square feet, is expected to begin operation by 2027, processing approximately 1.8 million pounds of milk per day, classifying it as a medium-scale plant.

According to a recent University of Nebraska–Lincoln dairy study, a facility of this size could generate an estimated $140 million in annual economic impact.

“Building this plant will help keep 30% of the state’s milk production from being processed elsewhere and creating more jobs here in the state,” says TJ Tuls, CEO of DARI Processing, LLC. “By keeping Nebraska’s milk in Nebraska, we will reduce the amount of miles that trucks haul around milk, reduce fuel usage and reduce the overall carbon footprint.”

Jonathan Jank, the President and CEO of the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership, described the project as transformational—not just for Seward, but for the entire county, the region, and the state.

He noted that it marked a significant step forward in the development of their industrial park, the Seward Rail Campus.

While Tuls Dairies will supply a large share of the milk, the plant will also rely on additional producers throughout the region.

“Their existing dairies will supply a good percentage of it, but not all of it. We think this opens up a big opportunity for farmers in the region, and some may even consider expanding as a result,” Jank said.

Governor Jim Pillen, who attended the groundbreaking event, calls the project a huge win for Nebraska agriculture. The facility is expected to create around 70 new jobs and help keep more value-added production within the state’s borders.

“Nebraskans raise the finest crops and livestock in America. Instead of shipping these commodities out of state, we can add value to them right here in Nebraska. I commend Todd and TJ Tuls for constructing a dairy plant to capture the full value of milk from local dairies,” Pillen said.

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