ADM corn dry mill investments to boost annual corn grind by 20M bushels
The investments are being implemented in two phases through 2027.
USA – Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) is investing in its corn dry mill in Columbus, Nebraska, with upgrades expected to increase annual corn processing by 20 million bushels compared with 2025 levels by 2027.
The investment comes amid growing demand for biofuels and is intended to strengthen demand for US corn while improving the facility’s operational efficiency.
The investment programme is being implemented in two phases. The first phase, which included equipment upgrades and modernization projects initiated in 2025, is complete.
These improvements have enabled the facility to operate at higher production rates, with ADM expecting to process approximately 10 million additional bushels of corn in 2026 compared with the previous year.
The second phase is scheduled to begin in autumn 2026, with completion expected in 2027. It will introduce additional technologies designed to improve processing yields and reduce natural gas consumption per tonne of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) produced by the facility’s dryers.
The improvements are expected to add another 10 million bushels to annual corn processing, bringing the total projected increase to 20 million bushels against the 2025 baseline.
ADM has not disclosed the total cost of the investment programme.
According to Nick Smith, ADM’s president of North American Energy and Biofuels, the investment reflects the company’s confidence in the long-term potential of the US biofuels sector and its capacity to create new markets for agricultural producers.
He highlighted supportive renewable fuel policies, long-term tax provisions and rising demand for lower-carbon fuels as factors underpinning investment decisions.
The Columbus upgrades also build on ADM’s decarbonization initiatives. In partnership with Tallgrass, ADM has established carbon capture operations at the facility, transporting carbon dioxide from ethanol production through Tallgrass’ Trailblazer pipeline for geological storage in Wyoming.
ADM has also announced plans to enter the voluntary carbon market with more than 800,000 tonnes of annual carbon removal capacity associated with the Columbus facility.
The project is part of ADM’s wider investment programme across North America, which includes upgrades to corn-receiving infrastructure in Clinton, Iowa, increased throughput at its Optima, Oklahoma, grain elevator, expanded natural-colour production in Kentucky, and investments to increase oilseed crushing capacity.
ADM operates eight production facilities, nine crop procurement locations and three warehouses in Nebraska, employing more than 650 people in the state.
The company reported spending more than US$2.1 billion on crops and other goods and services from Nebraska farmers and suppliers in 2025.
The Columbus investment is expected to further connect regional corn production with the expanding biofuels and agricultural processing markets.
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