RICHARDTON, N.D. -- A company has been formed to work on building an ethanol plant in North Dakota.
The new entity, Red Trail Energy LLC., is to carry the project from its planning stages to its completion, said board member Ambrose Hoff of Richardton.
Organizers want to build a plant that would produce 50 million gallons of ethanol a year.
Red Trail Energy has hired Greenway Consulting L.L.C. of Morris, Minn., to help develop and manage the project, Hoff said.
Greenway Consulting, formed in 2001, is a consortium that includes U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray; Denco L.L.C, an ethanol plant in Morris, and Agri-Source Consulting, an organization dedicated to help the ethanol industry.
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The estimated cost of the ethanol plant is $54 million.
Minneapolis-based energy firm makes plans
MADISON, Wis. -- A Minneapolis-based wind energy company wants to build a 55-turbine wind farm -- which would be the state's largest -- in Shawano County.
Navitas Energy Inc. is seeking permission to build a 2,200-acre farm in the rural towns of Maple Grove and Lessor in the southeastern part of the county, planning leaders said.
It would be the fourth wind farm development in northeastern Wisconsin since two turbines opened in the Brown County town of Glenmore in 1998.
But the latest project is so large and unprecedented that the Shawano County Board last month enacted a year-long moratorium so a special committee could gather facts related to the 50-megawatt proposal, titled the Hofa Park Wind Farm, officials said.
Farmers Union enters flower business
VELVA, N.D. -- The Farmers Union has decided to enter the flower business in north central North Dakota.
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The Farmers Union of Velva, Butte and Drake opened The Country Bouquet at Velva's main intersection on U.S. Highway 52. It offers ready-made and special-order bouquets, live plants and gift items. Orders can be placed through Teleflora to send arrangements across the country.
Cory Schmaltz, the Farmers Union general manager, said people might not think flowers when they think of the Farmers Union. But the flower shop is just one more way to diversify the organization, he said.
"There was a flower shop in Velva once before, and I believe there's still a need for one here," Schmaltz said. "I'm looking at what's good for Velva."
ICGA elects two directors, seven growers
JOHNSTON, Iowa -- Iowa Corn Growers Association members have elected two new directors and re-elected seven growers for another term on the ICGA board of directors.
Roger Knoblock of Rock Rapids and Greg Eibs, Laurel, are the new directors. Re-elected directors include Ron Litterer, Green; Jim Meyer, Odebolt; Bob Bowman, DeWitt; Doug Holliday, Greenfield; Jeff Laertew, Indianola; Warren Kemper, Wapello; and Keith Sexton, Rockwell City.
Each director will serve three-year terms on the board.
Meanwhile, the Iowa Corn Growers Association elected three new directors. They are Carl Johnson, Eagle Grove; Clifford Smith, Jefferson; and Julius Schaaf, Randolph. Re-elected as directors are Craig Pfantz, State Center, and Kyle Phillips, Knoxville.
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Iowa panel OKs waiver for ADM tax benefit
CLINTON, Iowa -- The Iowa Department of Economic Development has approved a waiver that will help Archer Daniels Midland Co. qualify for tax benefits for its $107 million plan to upgrade its plants in Clinton and Cedar Rapids.
The state economic development board agreed recently to waive a requirement that the projects create at least 50 jobs in exchange for the tax benefits.
The agreement means ADM will only have to create 20 jobs to qualify.
ADM plans to invest $45 million in value-added corn processing at its Cedar Rapids plant, where six jobs will be created. The company plans to invest $62 million at he Clinton plant, where 14 jobs will be created.
"ADM plants add value to Iowa agriculture by processing corn into a wide range of food ingredients and renewable fuels," board member Julie Carlson said.
Russell honored for forage research
AMES, Iowa -- James Russell, an Iowa State University animal science professor, recently received the Pioneer Hi-Bred International Forage Award at the 98th annual meeting of the American Dairy Science Association.
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The award recognizes outstanding research in forage production, processing, storage and utilization.
Russell's research focuses on forage utilization systems that optimize long-term return on investment in beef production. His primary research areas are summer rotational grazing and winter systems using crop residues and stockpiled forages.
