Land O'Lakes Has Expanded Tulare Production Facility
The cooperative is retooling its largest manufacturing plant to increase production of protein-rich dairy ingredients.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Agriculture
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Land O'Lakes has launched an overhaul of its processing facility in Tulare, California, to ramp up production of ultra-filtered milk and milk protein powder. This investment aims to satisfy rising consumer demand for protein-focused food products.
Why it matters
By expanding processing capabilities for protein ingredients, the cooperative seeks to capitalize on growing market demand for high-protein nutrition. The initiative is designed to provide long-term financial benefits to the thousands of farms within the Land O'Lakes network.
Land O'Lakes operates as a $16 billion company, with its dairy business generating $5 billion in annual revenue. The cooperative exports about 50% of its total milk powder production.
The players
Land O'Lakes
This agricultural cooperative is based in Arden Hills and manages a supply network of approximately 1,100 dairy farms.
The details
The project involves re-operationalizing currently unused buildings at the Tulare complex to create new processing lines. The first phase focuses on ultra-filtered milk production, with a potential second phase currently under consideration to dry milk into protein powder.
Timeline
Farmers are expected to see initial benefits from the protein investment in 2027.
Increased financial rewards for farmers are expected in 2028.
Market Landscape
This facility upgrade reflects the broader industry pivot toward specialized, high-protein dairy products to capture greater market share. The move strategically positions the cooperative to meet international and domestic appetite for concentrated protein ingredients.
While the project aims to improve long-term financial returns for farmers, the immediate impact on local grocery pricing and product availability remains to be seen. Consumers can expect to see an evolving range of protein-rich dairy products as the facility ramps up production.
The takeaway
This facility expansion highlights how established agricultural cooperatives are adapting their manufacturing footprint to align with modern nutritional trends. By investing in processing tech now, the company aims to secure a competitive position in the global protein market for the coming years.
What happens next
Farmers will start seeing tangible benefits from the protein investment in 2027, followed by increased financial rewards in 2028.
Further reading
For more background on regional industry developments, visit the Agriculture section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Twin Cities Business.
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