Groundbreaking Set for New Fertilizer Plant

A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, July 17, for the multi-million-dollar Iron Horse Ag fertilizer plant (operated by Nebraskaland Aviation). It is the first project in the Phelps County Development Corporation’s Iron Horse Business & Industry Park.

“PCDC worked hard for many years to prepare for this moment,” PCDC Board President Jared Engelbert said. “Nebraskaland Aviation deserves tons of credit for the investment they're making in our community.”

The new facility will house 6,665 tons of dry storage and will occupy nearly 40,000 square feet on the 18-acre plot purchased from PCDC.

“We are very proud and excited,” said Iron Horse Ag owner Tye Marquardt. “This project represents years of planning, overcoming obstacles and staying committed to delivering for our customers. This facility is a game-changer for our operation and gives us the ability to serve our customers with greater efficiency, reliability and innovation."

Marquardt said plans have been in the works for this facility since 2014.  

“From day one, we recognized that our existing setup was a short-term solution, and we began envisioning a more advanced, long-term facility to meet our growing needs,” Marquardt said. “Active planning kicked into high gear in late 2022 when we started discussions with Stueve Construction, and by early 2023, we made significant progress on the design. That's 11 years of strategic vision, culminating in this state-of-the-art facility that positions us to better serve our customers.”

PCDC purchased 134 acres of farmland west of Holdrege, also in 2014, to create the Iron Horse Business & Industry Park.

“Developing the park took a long-term vision,” Engelbert said. “We've worked on many potential projects. It's exciting that the first project in the park is a locally owned business that serves the primary industry in our county. Nebraskaland Aviation's plans align perfectly with our vision for the park.”

Marquardt said Ostgren Construction has already begun dirt work on the project. Phase 1, encompassing the dry fertilizer operations, is set for completion by March 1, 2026. Phase 2, which includes equipment and storage for liquid fertilizer, will roll out through 2026 and into 2027. Full operation of both facilities is expected by the end of 2027.

The new fertilizer plant will generate 15 new jobs over the next 5 years, with several positions already filled to support early operations and future product development. 

“Job growth will occur steadily over the next four years, aligned with the facility's phased rollout—dry fertilizer operations by March 2026 and full operations by the end of 2027,” Marquart said. “These roles will span operations, maintenance, logistics, sales, formulation, and management, driving our company's expansion and boosting the local economy.”

Marquart said he is grateful to South Central Nebraska and North Central Kansas farmers, “whose unwavering support, loyalty, and commitment to local business have been the heartbeat of this project.” 

He said the facility is “designed to support South Central Nebraska farmers by delivering a state-of-the-art solution to assist local farmers in continuing to produce the highest corn and soybean yields in the USA. Without their partnership, this vision would not have become a reality.”

Marquardt said he is also grateful to the many partners involved in making this project happen.

“We thank Phelps County, the City of Holdrege, PCDC, and the State of Nebraska for their steadfast dedication to fostering a pro-business environment and developing the Iron Horse Industrial Park, which provides critical rail access for our operations,” Marquardt said.

He also commends Stueve Construction for their outstanding design innovations and efficient construction management and OmniTrax for their support in establishing rail service to the project. 

“We also extend heartfelt appreciation to our incredible team of employees at Nebraskaland Aviation, whose dedication and expertise will bring this facility to life,” Marquardt said. “Without the collective efforts of our farmers, community partners, the State of Nebraska, construction teams, rail service providers, and our own team, this project would not have been possible.”