New soy-crush plant in Casselton, North Dakota, to break ground spring 2022

CGB Enterprises Inc. and Minnesota Soybean Processors announced Dec. 22 that they have formed a joint venture for the construction of a state-of-the-art soybean processing plant near Casselton, North Dakota.

North Dakota Soybean Processors LLC, jointly owned by CGB and Minnesota Soybean Processors, will own and operate the new facility, which is expected to crush 42.5 million bushels of soybeans in the first year, providing a more competitive and viable market within North Dakota for production that previously left the state.

“This is an exciting project that has been in the works since 2019,” said Steve O'Nan, senior vice president of CGB Soybean Processing. “This state-of-the-art soybean processing plant is a commitment to North Dakota agriculture. Its strategic location will produce soybean meal for the livestock industry and food-grade soybean oil to service the rising demand of food users and also the renewable fuel industry.”

Jeramie Weller, general manager of Minnesota Soybean Processors, said, “We are pleased to partner with CGB to build this facility that will complement our current operations in Brewster, Minnesota. The combination of these assets well positions us to meet demand, domestically and globally, for meal and oil, while providing a consistent, competitive market for locally grown soybeans for local farmers.”

Groundbreaking is slated for this spring, with plans to have the facility fully operational in 2024, subject to various federal, state and local permitting, infrastructure, and incentive approvals. The project is expected to create 50 to 60 new jobs once fully operational.

CGB has an existing soybean processing plant in Mt. Vernon, Indiana, that was built in 1997 and recently underwent a significant expansion to increase its soybean processing capabilities in southwest Indiana. The company has additional 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.

Minnesota Soybean Processors has an existing soybean processing facility located in Brewster, Minnesota, that started crushing soybeans in 2003 and added a biodiesel refining facility in 2005.