Monsanto Expands ND Soybean Plant

WEST FARGO, N.D.Monsanto Co. broke ground on the companys Asgrow® soybean seed production facility in West Fargo on April 1. The site is being converted from a sunflower seed production plant that was not necessary following the sale of Monsantos sunflower business to Syngenta in August 2009. The expansion is expected to be complete in December 2010.

"This site expansion is a critical part of our strategic direction as a seeds-and-traits business, but the real winners here are farmers, the community and the state of North Dakota," said Mark Martino, Monsanto's vice president of seeds and traits manufacturing. "It's an investment that enables farmers to have more choices of Asgrow® Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybean seeds. In addition, it will mean millions of dollars in capital upgrades at the site and new jobs for the community."

The expansion will showcase the latest technologies in soybean seed processing, designed to deliver Asgrow customers consistent, high performance year after year.

"This new facility will help answer that demand by using the latest in plant breeding and biotechnology, packaging and seed treatments to deliver soybean seeds that will give farmers in maturity groups 00 and 0 the best opportunity to achieve top-end yields," said Jerry Devore, Asgrow marketing manager.