CASSELTON, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – A groundbreaking was held Wednesday for the $400 million soybean crushing plant in Casselton, which is expected to draw soybeans from a 60 mile radius including Northwest Minnesota.
U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven joined other state, local, agriculture, and business leaders to celebrate the start of construction.
U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, attended the groundbreaking of North Dakota Soybean Processors’ new facility with Governor Doug Burgum (R-ND), Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), and local, agriculture, and business leaders in Casselton, North Dakota. Consolidated Grain and Barge (CGB) Enterprises Inc. and Minnesota Soybean Processors are constructing the plant that will be owned and operated by the North Dakota Soybean Processors, LLC. The facility will crush over 42.5 million bushels of soybeans per year to produce soybean meal and soybean oil, creating approximately 60 permanent jobs.
“Eastern North Dakota is a national leader in soybean production. This new North Dakota Soybean Processors facility expands market access, increases value for local soybean producers, and drives investment back into the local communities. Ventures like this are because of the hard work of state, local, and industry leaders working together to show North Dakota is a great place to do business,” said Senator Cramer.
“This project will provide a convenient, local market for our soybean producers while at the same time supporting good-paying jobs and economic growth in the region,” said Senator Hoeven. “By further increasing the partnership between the energy and ag industries in North Dakota, it creates another opportunity for farmers to get their product to market while producing soybean byproducts.”
The facility will crush over 42.5 million bushels of soybeans per year to produce soybean meal and soybean oil, creating approximately 60 permanent jobs. It’s aiming to be operational by 2024.
“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,” Governor Doug Burgum said. “We’re grateful to North Dakota Soybean Processors for this significant investment, which will create 50 to 60 quality jobs and generate greater economic activity and tax revenue that supports essential services and critical infrastructure, benefiting all North Dakotans. We also thank Josh Teigen and the entire team at the North Dakota Department of Commerce for their key role in the project, the State Water Commission and North Dakota Public Finance Authority for supporting Cass County Rural Water District on the water supply, the North Dakota Department of Transportation for working with Cass County on access to the site, and all the other partners whose efforts made this groundbreaking possible.”