'Bold' Ag Innovation Campus Breaks Ground in Crookston, Minnesota

(Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council/Biobased Diesel Daily) No small amount of grit, forward-thinking ideas or farmer leadership helped lead to a momentous day in Crookston, Minnesota, recently as ground was broken for the long-awaited Ag Innovation Campus' small crush facility.

"This is exciting―there are opportunities here," said Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, thanking leaders from both the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. "[The Ag Innovation Campus] speaks volumes for what we can do."

On a chilly fall afternoon in Crookston, Walz and AIC leaders gathered―with gold shovels in hand―at the AIC construction site for the official groundbreaking. The ceremony had been years in the making. In 2018 the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council invested checkoff funds in a feasibility study to support a regional soybean crush and biodiesel facility in northwest Minnesota. Crookston emerged as the ideal location. As the work progressed, a new vision for the Ag Innovation Campus evolved. This cutting-edge facility will provide a location to incubate other agriculture industry innovations under a mission of using Minnesota soybeans to create new products and jobs and generate myriad economic benefits for rural communities.

"It's going to add a lot to the local soybean market," said Tom Frisch, AIC board member and MSR&PC director.

The AIC aims to improve the economic outlook for farmers across the country. It will allow farmers to maximize the value of their crops, increase jobs spanning the skillset range from management to utility labor, and take advantage of current markets in biodiesel, soybean oil, soybean meal and glycerin.

"This facility is going to be the first-of-its-kind," MSR&PC CEO Tom Slunecka said. "Ultimately, it's the farmers and their vision and their ability to ride along on this journey that got us here. They were the core investment of this, and they'll continue to be the leaders. We can't do it without them."

The AIC in Crookston will host a specialty crushing facility, allowing universities, commodity groups and private seed developers access to affordable processing that aims to lower costs while promoting growth of value-added products.

"There will be a lot of synergy that will come out of this facility," said Jim Lambert, AIC project manager. "[The AIC] is really more of an agricultural business incubator than anything. … There are a lot of good things going on here."

The AIC aims to produce about 64,000 tons of soybean meal, crushing about 8,000 bushels of soybeans per production day. That equates to 2.5 million bushels a year or 61,000 acres of soybeans. Once established, the campus will be home to private industries to create products to benefit all parties, from farm gate to consumers. A fully operating AIC will employ up to 65 staffers. READ MORE

MPCA releases draft environmental assessment for proposed soy-crush plant in Crookston, Minnesota (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency/Biobased Diesel Daily)

Excerpt from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency/Biobased Diesel Daily) The EAW reviewed potential impacts to local geology, soils, groundwater, surface water and other potential environmental impacts. Some of the key findings are:

The depth to groundwater is approximately 11.5 feet, the site is not in a wellhead protection area, and there are no known wells on the site.

The project will impact two wetlands on the site. No public surface waters are on or near the site.

A significant increase in impervious surfaces created by the project will require utilization of drainage basins and stormwater best-management practices.

The proposed facility will require an air permit to ensure emissions comply with regulations under the federal Clean Air Act.

The EAW is an information-gathering document used to inform decisionmakers including those issuing land-use and environmental permits that are required for the project.

The environmental review process provides opportunity for public input during the public-comment period. The MPCA will host a virtual public information meeting Aug. 4, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more and ask questions about the EAW.

The public can review the draft EAW and submit public comments by visiting www.pca.state.mn.us/epitome or by mail:

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency c/o Charles Peterson 520 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155

After the public-comment period is complete, the agency will review all comments and determine whether additional environmental review will be necessary. If the agency determines there is no need for additional environmental review, the project will proceed to permitting. Given the nature of the facility, Epitome Energy will require multiple permits from various permitting authorities. READ MORE