ABERDEEN, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) An Aberdeen, South Dakota, based agriculture cooperative has received a $3,044,434 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help offset the cost of expanding its fertilizer production capabilities.
Agtegra Cooperative CEO Jason Klootwyk says the expansion will benefit their more than 7000 farmer and rancher owners across South Dakota and North Dakota. USDA Rural Development State Director Nikki Gronoli says the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program dollars enable Agtegra to increase the manufacturing and processing of fertilizer and nutrient alternatives for local farmers.
Klootwyk says Agtegra is matching the grant dollars to make a $6 million investment at their South Dakota locations in Ipswich, McLaughlin and Kimball. He says nearly a dozen groups supported their efforts to get this USDA Rural Development grant.
Klootwyk says the projects will more than double their fertilizer production, creating improved access to a major input cost for many farmers and ranchers. He says Agtegra plans to break ground for the expansions in the spring and have the projects finished before the end of 2025.
In total, USDA Rural Development announcement included more than $120 million in grants to fund six fertilizer production projects. Other states where grants were awarded are Arkansas, California, Illinois, Washington and Wisconsin.