State Fund Backs New Agriculture Projects

By Scout Nelson

A state agriculture diversification and development fund awards one million dollars to support four new projects aimed at growing value-added agriculture. This fund is created to help new or expanding agriculture businesses that show strong financial planning, support industry profit, create jobs, and add long term value to the state economy. Many types of projects are eligible, including food production facilities, animal production systems, agriculture processing operations, and pet food or feed processing sites. The fund continues to support projects that increase production capacity and strengthen rural communities.

The first award supports Anchor Ingredients with three hundred thousand dollars. This funding helps the company upgrade its three plants with new specialty equipment used to process flour and oat hulls. These upgrades aim to improve production and support value added product growth.

The second award offers five hundred thousand dollars to Cavendish Farms. This investment supports the expansion of its food processing facility and allows for new equipment that will increase the production of potato products. This project is expected to build economic activity and support the food sector.

The third award grants one hundred fifty thousand dollars to Tracey Hauck. This funding helps with the construction of a cattle barn and a working facility designed to raise cattle in a more efficient way. The project supports local livestock production and farm growth.

The final award provides fifty thousand dollars to Weinlaeder Seed Company. This support is used to buy lab equipment needed for the expansion of a food grade processing site that will handle a wide range of specialty crops.

Applications for the next round of funding are due on January 1, 2026. This fund continues to offer opportunities for agriculture businesses that want to expand, improve production, or enter new areas of the agriculture sector. For additional information, please visit https://www.ndda.nd.gov/add.

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