Superior Grains expands in Williston, ND

A 45-minute executive session netted a processing plant for pulse crops during Tuesday’s Williston City Commission meeting.

The board agreed to give up to 10 acres of industrial park land to Superior Grains of Crosby for a satellite plant here, and to pay up to $55,000 on a Pace buy down for a loan to build a peas and lentils processing plant with the Bank of North Dakota.

By LeAnn Eckroth, Staff Writer Williston Herald

(Many thanks to Tom Rolfstad for passing this good news along- Russ)

Attending the executive session were Les and Becky Knudson, president and vice president of Superior Grains.

Les Knudson said he would like to start construction as soon as possible. The plant is expected to be functional by late fall.

"We should be able to process 600 cars of peas and lentils during firsts 12 months of its startup," Knudson said.

Initially, it will employ about 13 people. Eventually, he predicts it will have between 35 and 40 workers.

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For more information call Les Knudson at 701-965-6241, or look at their website at http://www.superiorgrains.com.

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"We are not closing the Crosby plant. We are simply expanding," Knudson said. "It’s a win-win situation for everybody."

The specialty crops will be cleaned, sorted and bagged at the site.

Why Williston? "There’s a nice railway system here and a good access to the major roadways," Knudson explained.

He estimated statewide, pulse crops will increase by 120,000 acres.

"Most of our market is overseas," he said. "About 45 percent of the peas grown in the United States will be grown in this region," within 100-mile radius of the expected Williston facility.

Knudson said Crosby will continue shipping by truck and rail. "The expansion in Williston will allow us access to a main-line rail," he said.

Williston Economic Development Director Tom Rolfstad and Les Knudson tout peas as a way of adding another cash crop for local farmers without fallowing. It fortifies the soil with nitrogen for the next growing season.

He said they are in the process of contracting pulse crop growers for the plant.

Copyright © 2004Williston Herald.