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Maple River Grain Expansion Project

Maple River Grain was formed in 2004, with the merger of three cooperatives to build a shuttle loading facility at Casselton, ND. The facility has an average handle of 16 million bushels of corn, soybeans and wheat combined. 

In 2007, the construction of an ethanol plant began that will consume 36-40 million bushels of corn just two miles west of their elevator. The ethanol facility began operations in December 2008. Obviously, a high percentage of the corn for this ethanol plant will be purchased from local farmers and the corn volume of the elevator facility will decline. The strong demand for corn in the trade territory will also likely mean that more acres of corn will be planted; replacing acres of wheat and soybeans.

Because of the concern about potential loss of grain volume, primarily corn, to regional ethanol plants, Maple River Grain began searching for ways to replace the lost volume and income. Agronomy has always been a very important part of the overall business plan of the local cooperatives involved in the MRGA merger. They felt that taking steps to strengthen their agronomy department and make it more dominant in the local retail trade as well as developing an aggressive wholesale fertilizer and chemical operation made good sense.   

Increased corn production will mean increased demand for fertilizer. Much of the corn purchased by the ethanol plant will be delivered by truck. That would in turn mean significant in-bound truck traffic looking for backhauls. Fertilizer would be a natural backhaul for the farmer.

 In the past they would receive fertilizer cars in single car or small multiples and three small fertilizer plants that were becoming obsolete and in need of updates and repair. The new plant enables them to operate more efficiently with employees and machinery. It also helps to provide better service to their customers and provide them with a more competitive price and guarantee a better fertilizer supply.

What they did was build a 38,000 ton capacity fertilizer warehouse and blending facility that would have the ability to unload shuttle trains of fertilizer in 15 hours, blend specific fertilizer mixtures and load-out product. The project cost was $6 million. RRVW participated in track construction and locomotive access.

Cargill Receives Quality Honor

An agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce has named a local facility one of the best mills in America.  The National Institute of Technology (NIST) has awarded the 2008 Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award to Cargill Milling North America.

The plant owned by ProGold LLC opened in 1996 and was leased by Cargill in 1997. The Wahpeton examiner visited the site in October. Facility Manager Red Geurts said that the employees of the plant played a key role. “No doubt the Baldridge evaluators found hard working, creative and innovative people everywhere they looked across the complex. We are proud, honored and extremely excited to receive this prestigious award.” This is not the first award for the plant that produces high fructose corn syrup, corn gluten feed and corn gluten meal.

The facility has been the recipient of the Coors Brewing Supplier of the Year, and the All Star Dairy Association Thoroughbred Award for Outstanding Supplier in 2007.  They also have been awarded the Frito Lay Supplier of the Year and the H.J. Heinz Supplier of the Year for 2008. The plant has received the Cargill Chairman’s Award in 2004, 2006 and 2008.

Scrap Loading in Gondola Cars

Click here to download an important warning from the Association of American Railroads that deals with the policy and process for scrap loading in gondola cars. This was issued 8/8/2008.

New and Improved Berlin Farmer's Elevator

• Construction is going full-tilt at Berlin, ND, where crews are working to add 405,000 bushel capacity to the existing bins. Berlin Farmers Elevator lost 165,000 bushel capacity in a fire in July of 2007. Installation of the new bins and a new scale will start on September 17, 2008. The new office space is now finished and ready to move into.

Office Grading at the elevator.

Other News

• The Red River Valley & Western Railroad Company awarded three scholarships to college-bound children of railroad employees in 2009.

This year the RRVW awarded $1,000 scholarships to Zachary Hofmann, Ambria Johannessen and Erik Olson.

• Zachary Hofmann is a 2009 graduate of West Fargo Senior High School and the son of Roy Hofmann. Zachary received a $1,000 scholarship to further his education at Bemidji State University. He will major in Business Administration.

• Ambria Johannessen is a 2009 graduate of Fergus Falls High School and the daughter of Keith & Devy Johannessen. Ambria received a $1,000 scholarship to further her education at the University Wisconsin Superior, majoring in Marine Biology.

• Erik Olson is a 2009 graduate of Richland 44 and the son of Bryan and Olson. Erik received his $1,000 scholarship to further his education at North Dakota State University, majoring in Music.

• Red River Valley & Western is a short line railroad headquartered in Wahpeton with operating offices in Breckenridge, Kindred, LaMoure and Carrington.  The RRV&W serves agricultural customers, processors, and manufacturers in southeast and central North Dakota, and Breckenridge, Minnesota. The company has awarded $61,500 in scholarships to children of railroad employees since the program’s inception in 1995.

• 2008 News from the past
  Click HERE for 2008 scholarship winners.

• 2007 News from the past
  Click HERE for 2007 articles.

• Other News from the past
  Click HERE for past articles.

• 2007 Scholarships
  Click HERE for a summary of 2007 scholarship awards.

• 2006 Scholarships
  Click HERE for a summary of 2006 scholarship awards.

• 2005 Scholarships
  Click HERE for a summary of 2005 scholarship awards.