Going up: Crews work to construct soybean production plant in New Madrid

Several thousand piers are being driven into the ground at the site for the new Pioneer Hi-Bred New Madrid Production Plant. The work is part of a stabilization process to ensure the plant is safe. The plant is expected to be complete in time for the 2011 harvest. (Jill Bock, Staff)

NEW MADRID - For weeks, the towers have sprouted above the flat landscape where Pioneer Hi-Bred New Madrid Soybean Production Plant will locate.

The towers are driving several thousand piers into the ground, explained Brian Catlett, senior product agronomist with Pioneer. Those piers will help stabilize the warehouse and conditioning tower being which will be built on the site, just off Highway 61 west of New Madrid.

The stability is necessary for the sandy-clay ground as well as for the existence of the New Madrid Fault Line.

"Mother Nature give us things we have to learn to deal with," said Catlett. "We want to ensure the safety for all of our employees in case of a large earthquake."

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