The producer-members of the Border Line Feeders in the Ceylon area will press ahead with construction this spring as soon as it's dry enough to begin earth-moving, in spite of the ongoing effects of the BSE crisis in the cattle industry.

Industry watchers, including Neil Jahnke, president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, are predicting some good news for cattle producers this spring and summer, including the possible reopening of the U.S. border to live cattle by this summer or even late spring.

Border Line had largely put their project on hold in the interim, since the U.S. border was closed to Canadian live cattle last May, with some preparation work continuing, but now the group wants to press ahead with construction, said Bob Massier, board member.

Massier, fellow board member Graham McKenzie and coordinator Lara Dahl visited an ag show in Weyburn on Friday to promote the Border Line venture, with shares still available for purchase in the project.

The group owns the property for the proposed feedlot, located three miles south of Ceylon on Highway 6, the water has been developed and they have approval for an intensive livestock operation from the government.

The main water well which will supply the feedlot operation has been licensed at 120 gallons a minute, plus a second well is licensed at 30 gallons, although it produces at 50 gallons, said Massier.

The group plans to build a feedlot initially to handle from 5,000 to 7,000 head of cattle, with the long-term goal to handle 20,000 head. The feedlot pens and grain bins will be on the north quarter-section, and when the venture reaches its goal of 20,000 head, it will fill the entire quarter, he said.

The southern quarter-section will have an evaporation pond, composting piles and the water reservoir for the operation.

Massier said the group hopes to be able to start bringing in cattle this fall, if the construction schedule goes as planned this spring and summer. Tenders for earth-moving will be the first order of the day, with work to begin once the weather allows.

Border Line will initially employ seven people, and this will expand to around 20 once the operation expands to 20,000 head.

In addition, the operation will need up to 1.35 million bushels of barley a year, with plans to have an inventory of 20,000 bushels, or a 10-day supply, on hand at all times, along with 8,000 tonnes of silage and 4,500 round bales.

Besides those who will be employed at the feedlot, there will be spinoff benefits as truckers and farmers will need to supply the hay and grain, plus trucking of cattle to and from the operation.