As China boycotts U.S. soybean purchases, a $500 million processing plant south of Mitchell, South Dakota that will turn more of the state’s crop into oils and livestock meal opened its doors Tuesday. Tom Kersting, the CEO of South Dakota Soybean Processors, which manages the plant, said it will help stabilize prices and create local demand. “If it wasn’t for demand sources like this facility, it’d be very, very tough out there,” Kersting said, calling China, until now, the No. 1 buyer of South Dakota’s exported soybeans. China is avoiding U.S. soybeans this fall in response to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. The High Plains Processing Plant is designed to crush about 35 million bushels of soybeans per year. South Dakota farmers produced about 238 million bushels last year. The facility will help create local markets for crops as the China market dries up amid tariff tensions.