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Clarifying language paves way for Ag Innovation Campus in Crookston

The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association is celebrating a major win as the 2020 Minnesota Legislative Session comes to an end.

MSGA director Joe Smentek says legislators provided some clarifying language on what is now being called the Ag Innovation Campus in Crookston.

“We had $5 million allocated to us last year to build a small crushing facility in northern Minnesota. So we were really excited to get going, (but) last summer it came up that language that was in there really needed to go through a granting process. Which with the state can take quite a while.”

He tells Brownfield the Ag Policy Bill, which was signed this week by Governor Walz, paves the way for the campus to get up and running later this year.

“It’ll really bring some new, value-added opportunities for soybeans in the state of Minnesota.”

A study by the University of Minnesota estimates construction of the Ag Innovation Campus will generate $134 million in economic activity and add an estimated 820 jobs.  The plant is expected to employ 80 to 100 direct workers, with an estimated payroll of more than $5 million.

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