USA— The North Dakota Soybean Processors has broken ground on its $400 million soybean crushing plant in Casselton, ND, which is expected to crush 42.5 million bushels of soybeans in the first year sourcing its soybeans from producers as well as grain elevators in the region.
The plant which is expected to provide 50 to 60 jobs, will produce food-grade soybean oil and meal. The oil could go into the food industry or be turned into renewable fuel while the meal will most likely be used to feed livestock.
While North Dakota doesn’t have a large livestock industry to use the soybean meal, it could find a market in other states, Canada, Mexico or for export through ports in the Pacific Northwest.
Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) attended the groundbreaking along with U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), as well as local, agriculture, and business leaders.
“This project is part of a tectonic shift in North Dakota agriculture and energy – shifting away from exporting all our raw commodities out of state for processing and shifting toward adding value to those commodities right here at home, reducing transport costs and improving the prices paid to soybean growers,” Gov. Burgum said.
The new facility is set to expand market access, increase value for local soybean producers, and drive investment back into the local communities
Sen. Cramer noted Eastern North Dakota is a leader in soybean production, and added that the new facility is set to expand market access, increase value for local soybean producers, and drive investment back into the local communities.
Plans for the state-of-the-art soybean crushing plant have been in the works since 2019. North Dakota Soybean Processors expects the plant to be fully operational in 2024.
North Dakota Soybean Processors is a joint venture formed by CGB Enterprises, Inc. and Minnesota Soybean Processors (MnSP). According to AgWeek, North Dakota Soybean Processors is not being set up as a separate cooperative, but farmers can buy shares in the Minnesota Soybean Processors co-op.
CGB has grain elevator assets strategically located throughout the U.S. with access to rail, truck and barge transportation, as well as other complementary businesses within the agriculture and transportation industries.
MnSP has an existing Soybean Processing facility located in Minnesota that started crushing soybeans in 2003 and added a biodiesel refining facility in 2005.
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