YORKVILLE - More than 800 acres formerly used by Maple Leaf Farms to raise and slaughter ducks will go to auction Aug. 13.

The sale of the 802 acres, in three separate locations, stems from the closing of Maple Leaf Farms operations here. The company and a predecessor firm, C&D Farms, had been long-time duck producers in Racine county. The Milford, Ind.-based company announced in March that it was closing the operation. The company, the world's largest producer of duck meat, blamed ethanol production and rising feed costs for the decision.

The move eliminated about 175 of the company's 210 jobs in this area.

Schrader Real Estate & Auction Co. of Columbia City, Ind., will manage the Aug. 13 auction.

Although the properties being sold include the processing plant, poultry buildings and other facilities, Maple Leaf officials doubt the property will be used as a poultry plant again in the future.

"The factors that led us to close the duck farm and processing facility haven't changed, so we will sell the land in 20 tracts to allow buyers to purchase just what suits their needs," Scott Tucker, co-president of Maple Leaf Farms, stated in a news release.

"More than half of the land is excellent tillable farmland and there are several sites for building and some nice areas for hunting," he added.

R.D. Schrader, vice president of Schrader Auction Co., said that selling the land in multiple tracts provides more flexibility for buyers while making the land accessible to a wider pool of potential buyers.

"The processing plant and poultry buildings have been maintained and can still be used for poultry growing and processing, but we won't be surprised if buyers are more interested in conversion to other uses," said Schrader.

Tracts range in size from approximately five acres to more than 132 acres. The property is located at three sites:

n Eight tracts in Dover near Highway 20 totaling 236.5 acres. These tracts include tillable land, woods and some buildings.

n Eleven tracts in Yorkville on Highway U totaling 486.5 acres. These tracts include tillable land and wooded recreation/hunting land.

n A single, 79-acre tract of tillable land in Raymond.

The tillable farm land is expected to draw substantial interest because of high demand for agricultural land, according to Schrader. "Between record exports and high demand for fuel grains, agricultural profits are strong, and there is growing demand for good tillable land," he said.

Maple Leaf Farms chose to auction the property to speed the work of wrapping up operations in the Racine area, according to Tucker.

"We're continuing to work with our contract growers in Wisconsin and other states, but at this point, owning this property is just a management, maintenance and marketing burden that isn't adding value to the company. Getting the property sold at auction will enable us to place it in the hands of people who can put it to good use and benefit the local economy," said Tucker.

Anyone interested in more information about the land and auction may call Schrader Auction at (800) 451-2709 or visit http://www.schraderauction.com.