New crushing plants could process nearly half of North Dakota’s soybean crop

North Dakota continues to strengthen its position in the US soybean market as domestic processing expands rapidly. Two large soybean crushing plants opened in the state since 2023 can together process around 90 mln bushels per year — close to half of North Dakota’s projected 2026 soybean crop.

The expansion of crushing capacity is being supported by growing demand for biodiesel and other biofuels. This is partly offsetting weaker US soybean exports to China, which had previously been one of the main drivers of acreage growth in North Dakota.

The new plants are already increasing competition for soybeans. The Casselton facility, for example, has been offering farmers around $0.50/bushel more than local grain elevators that rely mainly on export markets.

North Dakota soybean plantings have more than tripled since 2000, compared with an increase of around 17% across the US. However, yields remain the main constraint: over the past decade they have averaged around 35 bushels per acre, compared with nearly 53 bushels per acre nationally.

USDA forecasts North Dakota’s 2026 soybean yield at 30 bushels per acre, the lowest in five years. Researchers are therefore developing varieties capable of delivering higher yields during the state’s short growing season while also improving drought tolerance, which could become a key factor in the industry’s further expansion.

Tags: soybean, USA, crushing plant, oilseed crushing, North Dakota