APUC To Review Funding Requests Totaling $423,075
Posted on July 10, 2001

Bismarck, ND � The board of directors for the North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) will review funding requests for 17 projects totaling $423,075.00 at its quarterly hearing on July 17 and 18, 2001, at the Seven Seas and Conference Center in Mandan, ND beginning at 9:00 AM on the 17th.

Lakota Dairy Initiatives of Edmore is requesting $20,700 to conduct a feasibility study to establish a central feed center, which forage producers from Nelson, Ramsey and Walsh Counties, would bring feed to be processed. The group hopes to establish a dairy heifer raising facility and a feedlot to feed and finish the dairy bulls/steers, and to determine if expanding an existing dairy or establishing new dairies is feasible. For more information contact Larry Legacie at 701-655-3564.

In the Potter�s Hand of Wildrose is requesting $40,000 to market its Dakota Free Products made from all natural farm grown crops such as mint, safflower oil, and beeswax. Products include mosquito repellant, moisturizing lotion, lip balm, and essential oils. Product growth will give local farmers the opportunity to grow these crops, which will provide additional farm income. For more information contact Christine Gillund at 701-539-2256.

Medina Farmers Union Grain Company is requesting $41,000 for �Reorganization and Value Added Development� the project will research feasible restructuring, establish strategic business and marketing plans, secure partnerships and alliances and assist in management reorganization and training. Value-added projects such as edible beans, innovative feed programs, and organic marketing center would be researched. For more information contact Gene Heinrich at 701-486-3169.

Commercial Vegetable Growers of ND is requesting $23,000 to hire a consultant for marketing whole peeled onions processed in North Dakota and sold nationally. CVG indicates this is a growth market in processed vegetables. For more information contact Rudy Radke at 701-356-0222.

North Dakota Angus Association is requesting $15,000 for the coordination, promotion, and marketing of Seven Black Angus sired calf sales in the fall. The association wants to help Angus and Angus-cross cattle producers� to receive more of their animals full market value. The group hopes to use the Certified Angus Beef branded program to achieve their goals. For more information contact Vern Frey at 701-728-6356.

Western Star Dairy, LLP of Williston is requesting $48,000 to hire a full-time manager to move the equity drive forward to a successful conclusion of a profitable dairy in northwestern North Dakota. The dairy will utilize high value forages and grains irrigated by area farmers. For more information contact Greg Quarne at 701-774-0055.

Dakota Ethanol Steering Committee is requesting $111,500 to move forward the business plan phase of building another ethanol plant in North Dakota. A feasibility study is being conducted by the Environmental Energy Research Center at the University of North Dakota and Bryan & Bryan International. Based on the current expansion boom in the ethanol industry, the outlook is positive for locating another plant in North Dakota. For more information contact Jocie Iszler at 701-239-7258.

Earthwise Processors, LLC is requesting $73,875 to aggressively develop international markets for identity preserved, non-GMO, organic, specialty crops produced in the region. It is planned that more than half of the products will be purchased from North Dakota producers. These premium crops will provide added income to North Dakota producers and help diversify their farming operations. For more information contact Carrol Duerr at 218-287-5510.

Earth Harvest Mills is requesting $50,000 to develop a packaged, refined, organic soybean oil product that will be marketed on the east coast. The Earth Harvest Mills will utilize the �AgGrow Agri Oils� plant in Carrington and the equipment originally installed in the facility. The plant will employ a number of people when the plant is operating. For more information contact Eric Hoberg at 701-452-2752.

APUC is a division of the Department of Commerce and administers five grant programs for researching and developing new and expanded uses for North Dakota agricultural products: basic and applied research, marketing and utilization, cooperative marketing, farm diversification and agricultural prototype. The grants are competitively awarded based on merit and likelihood of success. APUC funds are derived from farmers� off-road gasoline tax, state funds, and USDA grants.

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For more information, contact Inez Ryberg (701) 328-5350.