July 6, 2004 Horizon Organic Executive Joins Dakota Beef!
	July 1, 2004 Dakota Beef in USA Today!
	June 25, 2004 Meat processing plant hopes to be open before August
	May 10, 2004 Exec transfers his skill to organic beef startup
	May 5, 2004 Organic Takes Center Stage In Chicago New Organic Meat, Low-Carb & Convenience Foods Premier at All Things Organic™
	May 5, 2004 New products whittle away the carbs
	April 28, 2004 Dakota Beef commits to Heifer International as Corporate Sponsor
	March 12, 2004 Dakota Beef Announces the Appointment of Steve Lavey as Executive Vice President And Chief Financial Officer
	March 1, 2004 Dakota Beef signs with Hain Celestial for Organic Baby Food Line
	December 30, 2003 Massachusetts Architect to Design Organic Feed Facility   Full Text Below
	December 27, 2003 Dakota Beef responds to Mad Cow Crisis
	October 14, 2003 The acquisition of the company’s first of three planned processing facilities in Howard, South Dakota.
	June 27, 2003 Dakota Beef Applauds McDonald's Antibiotic Reduction Policy
	May 26. 2003 No BSE found in organic livestock production.
	May 21, 2003 Dakota Beef Supports Efforts to Contain Mad Cow Disease in Canada
	May 15, 2003 Dakota Beef Goes Global to Encourage Domestic Organic Beef Production.

Massachusetts Architect to Design Organic Feed Facility

Vineyard Haven, MA – December 30, 2003 – Peter James Breese has been selected to design a new state-of-the-art round barn dedicated to the feeding of 100% organic cattle. The commission for the organic barn comes from the Dakota Beef Company, which plans to erect the building near its plant in Howard, South Dakota. Breese Architects, based in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, is known for creating innovation within traditional buildings in historic places. Peter is also a strong proponent of the green architectural movement, which incorporates both sustainable building materials and energy conservation.

The design of the barn is based on one of the Mid-west’s largest round barns, built in 1914 near Quincy, Illinois. “The company originally intended to move the barn, but it had already been donated to serve as an historic monument for the Adam County Olde Tyme Association,” Mr. Breese explained. The new building will emulate the landmark’s basic structure, which is approximately 80 feet in diameter and capable of feeding 100 head of cattle at a time. It has a huge centrally-located feed silo and a high cupola, which allows air to circulate through the building. This design feature helps to keep the air fresh, as it is drawn up and out through an opening in the roof. Peter plans to incorporate a number of environmentally-friendly materials, such as harvested and resawn timber and roofing materials made from post-consumer products.

"Round barns offer a number of advantages for Organic livestock over conventional, rectangular ones," Peter added. "Early Shaker farmers found quality and efficiency in the round form, which improved access to feed, ventilation, light and water."

Peter will be working with Jun Yoshitani, Dakota Beef’s director of waste management, to help make the building self-sustaining and in compliance with organic livestock production rules. Mr. Yoshitani is incorporating an anaerobic digester in the design to turn the cattle’s waste into usable methane gas, which he expects can be used to power the building and fuel much of the machinery on the feed facility. Excess manure, as well as the residue from the digester can also be composted and sold to local farmers as organic fertilizer. "The organic movement recognizes the impact agriculture has on the environment," Jun added. "Not only should the food be good for you, but production methods should be natural processes that are healthy and environmentally sustainable."

The recent discovery of a dairy cow in Washington that tested positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy proves the need for this type of structure. Certified organic feed does not contain animal by-products that are thought to cause BSE, but cattle can become ill and refuse to eat if their environment is unpleasant. "Not only will the round barn aid in keeping animals comfortable during their stressful transfer to a new location, but it will also help them stave off infections or injury," explained Scott Lively, president and CEO of Dakota Beef.

When completed, the plans for the structure will be made available to other farmers and ranchers interested in building a self-sustaining facility. "Our firm's aim is to recreate a symbol of our country's heritage that is affordable, esthetically pleasing, and a suitable environment for high-quality 100% organic cattle," Peter said.

Peter James Breese is a member of NCARB, AIA, BSA, and is a registered architect in Massachusetts. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University, and his Master of Architecture from Syracuse University – Facolta di Architecture II, Florence, Italy. His work has been featured in national magazines, including Metropolitan Home, International Design, and Boston Magazine. Further information can be found at www.breesearchitects.com

Dakota Beef Company is a fully integrated beef processing company producing private label certified organic beef for both the retail and food service industries. Additional information can be found at www.dakotaorganic.com

^ back to top