Cargill reached an agreement to sell its beef cattle feed yards at Leoti, Kan., and Yuma, Colo., to Omaha-based, vertically integrated ethanol producer Green Plains Inc. Green Plains Inc. has existing feed yards at Kismet, Kan., and Hereford, Texas. The transaction will be finalized once a definitive agreement and regulatory review are complete.

Green Plains will supply cattle to Cargill through a new multiyear agreement. The approximately 90 people currently employed at Cargill’s Colorado and Kansas feed yards will be offered positions with Green Plains. The feed yards being sold have a capacity of approximately 155,000 cattle at any point in time.

“Selling our two remaining feed yards aligns with our protein growth focus by allowing us to redeploy working capital away from cattle feeding operations to other investments,” said John Keating, president of Cargill’s Wichita-based protein business operations and supply chain. “By partnering with Green Plains in a multiyear supply agreement, the Yuma and Leoti yards will continue to supply cattle to our beef processing facilities at Fort Morgan, Colo., and Dodge City, Kan., ensuring consistent, high-quality beef products for our customers.”

Over the past two years, Cargill has announced approximately $560 million in acquisitions and capital investments to grow its North American protein business.