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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) A few changes are underway following the merger of Dakota Ag and Dakota Plains Cooperative.
General Manager Ken Astrup is retiring on December 15th after being at the helm for eight years. Astrup talked about the growth of the coop with projects like the Litchville fertilizer plant and the expansion in Gwinner.
Dakota Plains Ag General Manager Dennis Novacek talked about the construction of grain elevators and a fertilizer plant in Gwinner.
The new 27 thousand ton fertilizer plant should be completed in March of 2016. The 2.4 million bushel capacity grain elevator should be ready by the fall of 2016 in Gwinner.
During the annual meeting in Verona on December 8th Brooke Peterson said the coop had $43,165,826 in total assets, liabilities and capital. She said total sale were $103,954,840 with $15,774,702 in total expense.
Local employee salaries and benefits totaled $8,504,002. These and other figures were released during the financial statement report on December 8th.
In other news Astrup said Gordy’s purchased the Dakota Plain Cooperative facility in Lisbon this year. He said Gordy will be announcing a few changes to the store in Lisbon later.
Some $80,000 was divided between 13 local charitable organizations during the annual meeting on December 8th.
Astrup said Dakota Plains kicked in $40,000 with Land O’ Lakes matching that figure with another $40,000. He said it’s a great give back program in which several communities receive a good benefit for their charitable work.
Below are photos of those people who represent non-profits and other charitable organizations who received money through this program.
The Valley City School District and Farm Rescue received checks for $1,000 apiece during the annual Dakota Plains Cooperative meeting in Verona, North Dakota on December 8th.
- L to R DPC board president Greg Svenningsen hands a $5,000 check to Barnes County Salvation Army Chairman Lee Isensee.
- L to R DPC board president Greg Svenningsen hands a $2,500 check to Sheyenne Valley Community Foundation Director Andrea Nelson.
- L to R DPC board president Greg Svenningsen hands a $1,000 check to Lisbon Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Steve Johnson. Photos by Steve Urness.
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L to R DPC board president Greg Svenningsen hands a $5,000 check to Director of Great Plains STEM Education Center Jamie Wirth.
L to R DPC board president Greg Svenningsen hands a $5,000 check to Executive Director of University Advancement Larry Robinson. 
L to R DPC board president Greg Svenningsen hands a $5,000 check to members of the FFA Chapter from Oakes, North Dakota representing Tam Maddock or the North Dakota FFA Foundation in Bismarck.
Far right DPC board president Greg Svenningsen hands a $5,000 check to Cathy Herbold of the Great Plains Food Bank. 
DPC board president Greg Svenningsen hands a $5,000 check to Lynn Speral of the American Red Cross.
DPC board president Greg Svenningsen hands a $1,000 check to Beth Dewald and Pam Foertsch of the Freedom Resource Center and the Jamestown Business Center. Photos by Steve Urness.