<p>A grower-owned peanut shelling plant is expected to be operating by May 2005.</p><p>Farmers from Tift and 10 surrounding counties own $5 million in stock in Tifton Quality Peanuts LLC, and have obtained a $2.5 million loan from the Tift County Development Authority, President Larry Lemley said.</p><p>The rest of the $15 million facility will be financed by bank loans.</p><p>The company will be located on 44 acres off U.S. Highway 41 south of Tifton. Farmers will receive one share of stock for every ton of peanuts delivered to the plant.</p><p>It is one of the largest industrial investments made in Tift County in the last 10 years and will employ 45 people full-time.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x2868214)</p>
