First new dairy processing facility in over 60 years to bring shelf-stable, high-protein milk to market—while keeping Nebraska milk in-state.
A major milestone has been reached for Nebraska’s dairy industry as DARI Processing, a fourth-generation family-run company, officially broke ground on a new $186 million milk processing facility at the Seward Rail Campus. The project marks the first dairy plant to be built in Nebraska in more than six decades and is expected to create 70 full-time jobs when it opens in March 2027.
Founded by the Tuls family of Rising City, DARI Processing is expanding local dairy capacity with a modern, high-tech facility that will process 1.8 million pounds of milk per day. The plant will produce MOO’V™ Real Milk—an ultra-filtered, high-protein, lactose-free milk with no artificial ingredients and a shelf life of up to 12 months without refrigeration, thanks to ultra-high-temperature pasteurization and aseptic packaging.
A Win for Nebraska’s Economy and Environment
Governor Jim Pillen, who attended the groundbreaking, praised the project as a “gigantic” win for the state’s agriculture. Instead of exporting raw milk to be processed elsewhere, the new facility will help Nebraska keep 30% of its milk in-state, reducing truck miles, fuel usage, and emissions.
“We raise the finest crops and livestock in America,” said Pillen. “This plant allows us to add value right here, supporting family farms and reducing waste.”
The plant’s location along Interstate 80 and near BNSF rail lines will help streamline distribution, allowing products like MOO’V to be shipped across North America and potentially worldwide.
Pandemic Lessons and Supply Chain Resilience
The COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point for the Tuls family. Supply chain disruptions forced farms across the U.S. to dump millions of gallons of milk. That experience motivated DARI Processing to pursue aseptic, shelf-stable dairy products that are less vulnerable to logistical bottlenecks and can remain safe and usable in emergency situations or natural disasters.
“We’re excited to produce a shelf-stable product that will require less refrigeration and can help get people through hard times,” said Todd Tuls, co-owner of DARI Processing.
Innovation in Every Bottle
DARI’s facility will combine ultrafiltration (which removes some sugar and lactose while boosting protein) with ultra-high-temperature pasteurization and sterile packaging. This method is widely used in Europe and New Zealand and allows milk to stay fresh for up to a year without refrigeration.
The plant’s flagship product, MOO’V, is already available at Hy-Vee and other grocery stores across Nebraska, with flavors and packaging tailored for families and health-conscious consumers.
State and Local Support
The project has received widespread support from public and private partners:
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$1 million in Community Development Block Grants, matched by the City of Seward
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$583,000 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s Economic Opportunity Program
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$500,000 in Site and Building Development Funds from the Department of Economic Development
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State-funded infrastructure extensions for Worthman Boulevard, water, and sewer lines
The Nebraska Public Power District, Black Hills Energy, Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN), and the Nebraska State Dairy Association also played key roles in making the project a reality.
“This is a project of statewide importance, and it only came together through incredible teamwork,” said Jonathan Jank, President & CEO of the Seward County Chamber & Development Partnership. “This is a big win for rural Nebraska.”
Long-Term Vision for Growth
The new facility is part of a broader effort to strengthen Nebraska’s food production ecosystem. Located in the Seward Rail Campus, the plant joins other agribusiness and manufacturing leaders in the region and completes the first phase of the industrial park’s development plan.
For TJ Tuls, CEO of DARI Processing, the goal is clear: “We want to level up milk. This plant will allow us to be more sustainable, more local, and more innovative.”
As Nebraska moves to reclaim its role as a leader in value-added agriculture, the launch of DARI Processing signals a new chapter—one where milk stays local, jobs stay rural, and dairy gets a high-tech refresh for the future.
