Minnesota Soybean Processors meal, which is used for livestock Adding value to beans through biodiesel feed. Our members not only have Having more marketing av- enues helps a farmer maximize the profit of their crop. For over 20 years, the Minne sota Soybean Processors plant in Brewster has helped farmers increase marketing options for soybeans. The plant began crush- ing soybeans 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 million and 40 million gallons produced every year. "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." MnSP is a member-owned cooperative, with a base of 2,200 members covering a large swath of Southwest Minnesota, Northwest Iowa, 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 beans to an elevator, where it would be turned into treated beans or the majority were put on unit trains to be shipped out of our area. By producing biodiesel, you have another market for those beans, adding value to the product. "Our plant also turns beans into soybean oil and soybean benefits from a dividend stand- point, they also have incentive to bring their beans to our plant." The plant processes about 700,000 to 800,000 acres of soy- beans in a year. Even the by-prod- ucts of producing biodiesel have market value. One of the main by-products is glycerin, which can be used to produce soap, shampoo or even toothpaste. Weller says development of bio- diesel refineries also has changed how soybean seed is developed. "Our farmers strive to bring us the best product," Weller said. "In the last two decades, soybean varieties have had protein and oil contents boosted. We see more yield per acre. It's a credit to seed companies, knowing the product farmers and plants like ours want. Farmers bringing their beans here do get a premium for having their beans in the ideal range. When we process beans into soy- bean oil, and ultimately biodiesel, the more oil the better." 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. "Probably less than 5% of the beans we pro- cess come from members. We offer competitive prices for soybeans to give farmers more options to sell their beans. We also purchase from local elevators. Any farmer bringing beans to a local elevator reaps 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 benefi cial for the farmer to bring their beans directly here. We can take in over 5 million bushels of beans at harvest time. We have also made improvements to our unload capabilities, adding another 2.6 million bushels of storage and installing inbound and outbound scales. That has significantly re- duced the waiting times to dump at our plant" In an effort to continue bring- ing more value to farmers, MnSP teamed with Consolidated Grain and Barge to build a similar pro- cessing plant in Casselton, N.D. The joint venture became fully op erational this fall and gives farm- ers near the plant a year round and more competitive market for their soybeans going forward. We salute... THE AREA FARMERS FOR ALL THEY DO! MnSP Minnesota Soybean Processors 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 meal , which is used for livestock Adding value to beans through biodiesel feed . Our members not only have Having more marketing av- enues helps a farmer maximize the profit of their crop . For over 20 years , the Minne sota Soybean Processors plant in Brewster has helped farmers increase marketing options for soybeans . The plant began crush- ing soybeans 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 million and 40 million gallons produced every year . " 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 . " MnSP is a member - owned cooperative , with a base of 2,200 members covering a large swath of Southwest Minnesota , Northwest Iowa , 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 beans to an elevator , where it would be turned into treated beans or the majority were put on unit trains to be shipped out of our area . By producing biodiesel , you have another market for those beans , adding value to the product . " Our plant also turns beans into soybean oil and soybean benefits from a dividend stand- point , they also have incentive to bring their beans to our plant . " The plant processes about 700,000 to 800,000 acres of soy- beans in a year . Even the by - prod- ucts of producing biodiesel have market value . One of the main by - products is glycerin , which can be used to produce soap , shampoo or even toothpaste . Weller says development of bio- diesel refineries also has changed how soybean seed is developed . " Our farmers strive to bring us the best product , " Weller said . " In the last two decades , soybean varieties have had protein and oil contents boosted . We see more yield per acre . It's a credit to seed companies , knowing the product farmers and plants like ours want . Farmers bringing their beans here do get a premium for having their beans in the ideal range . When we process beans into soy- bean oil , and ultimately biodiesel , the more oil the better . " 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 . " Probably less than 5 % of the beans we pro- cess come from members . We offer competitive prices for soybeans to give farmers more options to sell their beans . We also purchase from local elevators . Any farmer bringing beans to a local elevator reaps 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 benefi cial for the farmer to bring their beans directly here . We can take in over 5 million bushels of beans at harvest time . We have also made improvements to our unload capabilities , adding another 2.6 million bushels of storage and installing inbound and outbound scales . That has significantly re- duced the waiting times to dump at our plant " In an effort to continue bring- ing more value to farmers , MnSP teamed with Consolidated Grain and Barge to build a similar pro- cessing plant in Casselton , N.D. The joint venture became fully op erational this fall and gives farm- ers near the plant a year round and more competitive market for their soybeans going forward . We salute ... THE AREA FARMERS FOR ALL THEY DO ! MnSP Minnesota Soybean Processors 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