Dakota Valley Growers (DVG), Bathgate, N.D., a cattle feeder developing a sustainable beef cattle feeding operation, and Bion Environmental Technologies Inc., New York City, which produces livestock waste treatment technology and sustainable beef, on May 31 announced that DVG has been awarded a $128,500 grant from North Dakota’s Agricultural Products Utilization Commission to cover certain initial project development costs, including 75% of initial engineering, design, permitting, and legal work associated with developing the DVG project.
The companies said engineering teams have been engaged by DVG and Bion and have begun design work to support conditional use permit applications. The applications are expected to be submitted within two months, at which time a public hearing will be scheduled.
In addition to sustainable beef, the project is expected to produce local, low-carbon, and/or organic nitrogen fertilizers, as well as surplus renewable energy from biogas and solar electric production. DVG and Bion anticipate that additional grants, incentives, and resources will become available to support DVG’s expansion and transition to production of sustainable beef, fertilizers, and energy.
“We look forward to working with Dakota Valley Growers to develop a sustainable beef production facility in North Dakota,” said Bion CEO Bill O’Neill. “The weather in North Dakota presents unique challenges to feeding cattle outdoors that we believe will highlight the advantages of barns coupled with state-of-the-art waste treatment and resource recovery technology. We very much appreciate the ‘can do’ attitude we have met there, as well as the level of interest and support shown by various ag stakeholders and state agencies.”
DVG is a sixth generation family-owned and operated farming and cattle operation. Established in 1879, the family now farms 4,200 acres to produce corn, alfalfa, grass hay, beans, and barley. They have produced and fed cattle for 20 years. The new project is expected to be a market for local feeder calves.