SIOUX FALLS - Poet says it has restarted production at its ethanol plant in Macon, Mo., and has added corn oil production to its product mix.

The 45 million-gallon-per-year ethanol plant suspended operations in February, primarily due to a lack of available corn from last year's drought.

The Sioux Falls-based company during the downtime made about $14 million in upgrades, including adding a more efficient evaporator, a new administration building and scale house and a new control system.

Work continues on installation of BPX technology, a no-cook process that reduces heat and energy use.

Poet chief executive Jeff Lautt says the upgrades will position the plant well for the future.

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