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(Marion, Ohio) - Bunge North America will discontinue soybean processing operations here by November 30, according to a news release. The facility will remain open as a grain elevator.

"Bunge is continually adjusting our crush capacity to more efficiently meet market demand,” said Mark Van Emon, vice president and general manager, Bunge Oilseed Processing. “With less capacity required in the East, Marion’s smaller size and limited logistics put it at a disadvantage compared to other Bunge plants. As a member of the Marion community for a half a century, we are disappointed that we must end crushing operations but we are pleased that we will continue to serve local farmers as an elevator."

The company recently notified the state of Ohio the move will result in 38 layoffs, expected to take place near the end of January.

During the next two months, employees will assist in transitioning the facility from a soybean processing plant to an elevator, the news release said. Some employees will remain on staff to operate the elevator and others will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at other Bunge plants.

Bunge will honor all existing contracts for soybeans, meal and oil and will continue to contract for soybeans for delivery to Marion.

Bunge North America - the North American operating arm of Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG) - is a food and feed ingredient company, supplying raw and processed agricultural commodities and specialized food ingredients to a wide range of customers in the livestock, poultry, food processor, foodservice and bakery industries. With headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, Bunge North America and its subsidiaries operate grain elevators, oilseed processing plants, edible oil refineries and packaging facilities, and corn dry mills in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information visit http://www.bungenorthamerica.com/index.shtml

Parent company Bunge Limited (http://www.bunge.com) is a leading global agribusiness and food company founded in 1818 and headquartered in White Plains, New York. Bunge employs more than 25,000 in more than 30 countries. It supplies fertilizer to farmers in South America; originates, transports and processes oilseeds, grains and other agricultural commodities worldwide; produces food products for commercial customers and consumers; and supplies raw materials and services to the biofuels industry.