Minnesota Soybean Processors When we process beans into soy- bean oil, and ultimately biodiesel. the more oil the better." Adding value to beans by producing clean-burning biodiesel Having more marketing av. enues helps a farmer maximize the profit of their crop. million and 40 million gallons produced every year. For over 20 years, the Minne- sota Soybean Processors plant in Brewster has helped farmers increase their marketing options for soybeans. "Every year, blenders have to blend 20% biodiesel and 80% Number 2 diesel. That blend is sold from April 15 through the end of September. From the end of September through April 15, the blend is 5% biodiesel and 90- 95% Number 2 diesel. We really try to ramp up our B20 produc tion in February and March." The plant began crushing soy beans for production of soybean meal and soybean oil in 2003. In 2005, the plant began refining biodiesel. Jeramie Weller, general man- ager of MnSP's Brewster pro- cessing plant, says the purpose of the member-owned plant is to give farmers more value when it comes to marketing soybeans. "Biodiesel is a value-added product for farmers and a lot of producers use it," Weller said. "We're an important part of the Minnesota Mandate, which calls for the production of ap proximately 70 million gallons of biodiesel each year. We supply a large percentage of the biodiesel to meet that mandate-about 30-40% of the mandate can be produced by our plant alone. Typically we're between 30 MnSP is a member-owned cooperative, with a base of 2,200 members covering a large swath of Southwest Minnesota, North- west lowa, Southeast South Dakota, Northeast Nebraska and even part of North Dakota. "A crush plant our size adds to the value of the soybean," Weller said. "It's given farmers another outlet for their beans. In the past, a farmer would take their beans to an elevator, where it would be turned into treated beans or the majority would be put onto unit. trains to be shipped out of our area. By producing biodiesel, you have another market for those beans, adding value to the prod- uct. "Our plant also turns beans into soybean oil and soybean meal, which is used for livestock feed. Our members not only have benefits from a dividend stand- point, they also have incentive to bring their beans to our plant." The plant typically processes about 700 to 800 thousand acres worth of soybeans in a year. And even the by-products of produc ing biodiesel have market value. One of the main by-products is glycerine, which can be used to produce soap, shampoo or even toothpaste. Weller added that the develop- ment of biodiesel refineries also has changed how soybean seed is developed. "Our farmers strive to bring us the best product," Weller said. "What's happened in the last decade or two, soybean varieties have had protein and oil contents boosted. We're also seeing more yield per acre. It's a credit to seed companies, knowing the product that plants like ours want. Farmers bringing their beans here do get a premium for having their beans in the ideal range. MnSP Minnesota Soybean Processors But the MnSP plant is not lim ited to members. "We have a 2,200-member base, but farmers do not need to be members to bring their beans to our plant." Weller said. "Prob- ably less than 5% of the beans we process come from our members. We offer competitive prices for soybeans to give farmers more op- tions to sell their beans. We also purchase from local elevators, so any farmer bringing beans to a local elevator reaps the benefits of our plant. "But if you compare what we pay a farmer to bring their beans here, versus what an elevator pays for the beans before selling them to us, it typically is more beneficial for the farmer to bring their beans directly here. We can take in 4 million bushels of beans. at harvest time. Otherwise, we get them later in the process." In an effort to continue bring- ing more value to farmers, MnSP has teamed up with Consolidated Grain and Barge to build a simi- lar processing plant in Cassleton. N.D. That joint venture is expect- ed to be fully operational in 2024. we salute... THE AREA FARMERS FOR ALL THEY DO! Congratulations to the families featured in this edition! 507-842-6677 or 888-842-6677 P.O. Box 100 121 Zeh Ave. Brewster www.mnsoy.com Minnesota Soybean Processors When we process beans into soy bean oil , and ultimately biodiesel . the more oil the better . " Adding value to beans by producing clean - burning biodiesel Having more marketing av . enues helps a farmer maximize the profit of their crop . million and 40 million gallons produced every year . For over 20 years , the Minne sota Soybean Processors plant in Brewster has helped farmers increase their marketing options for soybeans . " Every year , blenders have to blend 20 % biodiesel and 80 % Number 2 diesel . That blend is sold from April 15 through the end of September . From the end of September through April 15 , the blend is 5 % biodiesel and 90 95 % Number 2 diesel . We really try to ramp up our B20 produc tion in February and March . " The plant began crushing soy beans for production of soybean meal and soybean oil in 2003. In 2005 , the plant began refining biodiesel . Jeramie Weller , general man ager of MnSP's Brewster pro cessing plant , says the purpose of the member - owned plant is to give farmers more value when it comes to marketing soybeans . " Biodiesel is a value - added product for farmers and a lot of producers use it , " Weller said . " We're an important part of the Minnesota Mandate , which calls for the production of ap proximately 70 million gallons of biodiesel each year . We supply a large percentage of the biodiesel to meet that mandate - about 30-40 % of the mandate can be produced by our plant alone . Typically we're between 30 MnSP is a member - owned cooperative , with a base of 2,200 members covering a large swath of Southwest Minnesota , North west lowa , Southeast South Dakota , Northeast Nebraska and even part of North Dakota . " A crush plant our size adds to the value of the soybean , " Weller said . " It's given farmers another outlet for their beans . In the past , a farmer would take their beans to an elevator , where it would be turned into treated beans or the majority would be put onto unit . trains to be shipped out of our area . By producing biodiesel , you have another market for those beans , adding value to the prod uct . " Our plant also turns beans into soybean oil and soybean meal , which is used for livestock feed . Our members not only have benefits from a dividend stand point , they also have incentive to bring their beans to our plant . " The plant typically processes about 700 to 800 thousand acres worth of soybeans in a year . And even the by - products of produc ing biodiesel have market value . One of the main by - products is glycerine , which can be used to produce soap , shampoo or even toothpaste . Weller added that the develop ment of biodiesel refineries also has changed how soybean seed is developed . " Our farmers strive to bring us the best product , " Weller said . " What's happened in the last decade or two , soybean varieties have had protein and oil contents boosted . We're also seeing more yield per acre . It's a credit to seed companies , knowing the product that plants like ours want . Farmers bringing their beans here do get a premium for having their beans in the ideal range . MnSP Minnesota Soybean Processors But the MnSP plant is not lim ited to members . " We have a 2,200 - member base , but farmers do not need to be members to bring their beans to our plant . " Weller said . " Prob ably less than 5 % of the beans we process come from our members . We offer competitive prices for soybeans to give farmers more op tions to sell their beans . We also purchase from local elevators , so any farmer bringing beans to a local elevator reaps the benefits of our plant . " But if you compare what we pay a farmer to bring their beans here , versus what an elevator pays for the beans before selling them to us , it typically is more beneficial for the farmer to bring their beans directly here . We can take in 4 million bushels of beans . at harvest time . Otherwise , we get them later in the process . " In an effort to continue bring ing more value to farmers , MnSP has teamed up with Consolidated Grain and Barge to build a simi lar processing plant in Cassleton . N.D. That joint venture is expect ed to be fully operational in 2024 . we salute ... THE AREA FARMERS FOR ALL THEY DO ! Congratulations to the families featured in this edition ! 507-842-6677 or 888-842-6677 P.O. Box 100 121 Zeh Ave. Brewster www.mnsoy.com