North Dakota Mill Is Still Going Strong After More Than 100 Years

In partnership with: North Dakota Department of Agriculture

More than a century ago, wheat wasn’t a profitable crop for North Dakota farmers. At the time, the nearest flour mills and grain exchange were in Minneapolis, and freight costs took a significant chunk of growers’ revenue. But in October 1922, the opening of the North Dakota Mill and Elevator in Grand Forks resolved this problem.

The only state-owned mill in the U.S., the North Dakota Mill faced numerous challenges during its first 50 years, including struggling to turn a profit in its first decade and damage from two major fires. But over the past five decades, the operation has blossomed into a substantial asset for North Dakota.

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“The mill receives no financial assistance from the state and is totally self-supported,” says Vance Taylor, mill president and CEO. “We have great relationships with state and local government officials.”

The mill supports the local economy with an annual payroll of $16 million. It also contributes about half its profits to North Dakota’s general fund and 5% to the state’s Agricultural Products Utilization Commission, which finances development of new uses for North Dakota agricultural products. Remaining profits are returned to the mill in the form of capital projects.

Building on Success

After numerous expansions, including the 2022 addition of two new milling units, the operation now grinds up to 140,000 bushels of grain per day with its 10 total milling units and has a terminal elevator that can store 5.3 million bushels. Since 2000, daily capacity has grown from 2.7 million to 6 million pounds of flour.

Taylor attributes the North Dakota Mill’s success to its staff as well as the grain it sources – about 90% comes from North Dakota and 10% from Minnesota, with occasional purchases from South Dakota and Montana.

“We source some of the best spring wheat and durum in the world from North Dakota,” he says. “And we have excellent, dedicated and hardworking employees that work together as a team to meet common goals.”

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This year, the North Dakota Mill is embracing new marketing strategies, including increasing branded product sales, targeting bakery customers seeking high-quality flours, and promoting new products to the retail and food service markets.

“With the additional capacity available from our new mills, we will work hard to continue to grow the business by working closely with our producers, customers, suppliers and other partners,” Taylor says.