Smithfield Pork Plant to Relocate in Sioux Falls

New $1.3 billion facility to be built in industrial park, moving from downtown site

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Smithfield Foods, one of the largest pork producers in the country, has announced plans to relocate its processing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The current century-old facility, which employs around 3,200 people, will move to a new $1.3 billion campus in an industrial park on the outskirts of the city. The move raises questions about Smithfield's environmental impact, its importance to the state's agriculture industry, and the economic implications for Sioux Falls.

Why it matters

Smithfield's pork plant has been a fixture in Sioux Falls for over a century, playing a crucial role in the local and state economy. The relocation raises concerns about the plant's environmental footprint, as the current facility sits along the Big Sioux River. However, the move also presents an opportunity to redevelop the downtown site and potentially improve river access for the community.

The details

The new 200-acre Smithfield facility will be located in an industrial park northwest of downtown Sioux Falls, about 3 miles away from the Big Sioux River. The company says the new plant will use air-scrubbing technology to significantly reduce odors that have long plagued the current site. Smithfield has faced past issues with water pollution and air quality violations, but claims recent investments have improved its environmental compliance. The $90 million in tax increment financing approved by the city will go toward a new wastewater treatment facility for the plant.

  • Smithfield's pork processing facility has operated in Sioux Falls since 1909, when it opened as John Morrell & Co.
  • Smithfield Foods acquired the plant in 1995.
  • In February 2026, Smithfield, South Dakota's governor, and the Sioux Falls mayor announced the plant's relocation to a new $1.3 billion campus.
  • The new facility is expected to take several decades to fully develop and open.

The players

Smithfield Foods

One of the largest pork producers in the United States, operating a major processing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota since acquiring it in 1995.

Larry Rhoden

The governor of South Dakota.

Paul TenHaken

The mayor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Shane Smith

The CEO of Smithfield Foods.

Denny Sanford

A billionaire who is providing a $50 million gift to help fund the new Smithfield facility.

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What they’re saying

“The proposed combined fresh pork and packaged meats facility will be the most modern of its kind in the United States and will support independent hog farmers, corn and soybean producers (that provide the grain we use to feed our animals) and other agricultural sectors that fuel the pork supply chain in South Dakota and the surrounding region.”

— Emma Davis, Representative, Smithfield Foods (News Watch)

“This won't solve all of our river issues in terms of quality. I always hammer on that there's upstream and downstream things we need to be doing to really have a large scale impact. It's just a small drop in the bucket compared to everything that's going into it.”

— Travis Entenman, Executive Director, Friends of the Big Sioux River (News Watch)

What’s next

The $90 million tax increment financing (TIF) district for the new Smithfield campus will be formally proposed to the Sioux Falls city planning commission on March 4. If approved there, it will then go through hearings in front of the city council later in the month.

The takeaway

Smithfield's relocation represents a significant shift for Sioux Falls and South Dakota, as the pork plant has been a major economic driver and employer in the region for over a century. While the move raises environmental concerns, it also presents an opportunity to redevelop the downtown site and potentially improve public access to the Big Sioux River. The success of the new facility will depend on Smithfield's ability to address its past environmental issues and maintain its crucial role in the state's agricultural economy.