APUC Grants $145,700 For Value-Added Ag
Posted on July 23, 2001

Bismarck, ND � The Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) announces its summer grant awards. Five projects will receive $145,700 in value-added grants.

The grant recipients are: Lakota Dairy Initiative, Western Star Dairy Equity Drive, Dakota Ethanol Steering Committee, Commercial Vegetable Growers and In the Potter�s Hand.

Lakota Dairy Initiative was granted $20,700 to determine if a feed plant could provide feed for a dairy heifer raising facility, and a steer feedlot. The funds will also be used to establish one or two additional dairies. For more information contact Larry Legacie at 701-655-3564.

Western Star Diary located in Williston received a grant for $48,000 to hire a business manager for their equity drive. This is the second grant Western Star Dairy has received. The first grant was to establish a cooperative of investors/producers to develop a large dairy in northwest North Dakota. They are now ready to move to the second phase of the project. For more information contact Greg Quarne at 701-774-0055

A grant for $35,000 was awarded to Dakota Ethanol Steering Committee. The Group, in cooperation with the ND Corn Growers and ND Corn Utilization Council, is planning the construction of an ethanol plant in North Dakota. Grant funds will be used for the business plan phase that includes an equity drive. Based on the current expansion boom in the ethanol industry, the outlook is good for locating a third ethanol plant in North Dakota. For more information contact Jocie Iszler at 701-239-7258.

Commercial Vegetable Growers of ND received a $12,000 grant to hire a consultant knowledgeable in the market for whole peeled onions, which could be processed in North Dakota. The need for pre-processed products is growing and would add value to the onion crop. For more information contact Rudy Radke at 701-356-0222>

Gerald & Christine Gillund owners of In the Potter�s Hand, Wildrose, ND was awarded a grant for $30,000 to market their all natural products utilizing farm crops such as mint, safflower oil, and beeswax. Products include mosquito repellant, moisturizing lotion, lip balm and essential oils. The growth of this company, gives local farmers the opportunity to grow these crops for additional farm income. For more information contact Gerald or Christine Gillund at 701-539-2256.

APUC heard 9 funding requests totaling $423,075, of which $145,700 was granted.

APUC is a division of the state Economic Development and Finance Department 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.

###

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