CHS Inc. plans expansion of North Dakota Grain Terminal to enhance storage, efficiency

USA – CHS Inc., a prominent farmer-owned cooperative and global agribusiness, has unveiled plans for a major expansion and upgrade to its grain terminal in Kindred, North Dakota.

This strategic investment aims to enhance storage capacity, operational speed, and connectivity, aligning with CHS’s mission to strengthen the grain supply chain for its farmer-owners.

Upon completion in late 2026, the upgraded facility is poised to boast a storage capacity of 5.2 million bushels, significantly improving market access for local farmers.

The project includes replacing existing steel bins with new concrete storage, increasing operating space by 890,000 bushels. Steel bin removal is set to begin later this year, with construction on the concrete storage anticipated to start in 2025.

The Kindred facility serves as a centralized hub, providing energy, grain, and agronomy services. Planned enhancements include a new loadout system and two high-speed receiving dumps, which aim to reduce load times during harvest and other peak seasons.

These upgrades will connect local growers more effectively to the Pacific Northwest grain corridor and other key markets.

“Investing in our Kindred grain terminal is just one example of how CHS is strengthening the grain supply chain by connecting local growers to the global marketplace,” said Rick Dusek, executive vice president of ag retail, distribution, and transportation for CHS.

“As a cooperative, we focus on investments on behalf of our owners that enhance their global market access and provide value back to their communities.”

The facility’s rail lines, which integrate with the Red River Valley and Western Railroad Co., will support regional connectivity. This includes links to a new soybean crush plant and an ethanol facility in nearby Casselton, further solidifying Kindred’s role in North Dakota’s agricultural network.

Agriculture is a cornerstone of North Dakota’s economy, with nearly 90% of the state’s land dedicated to farming and ranching. Major crops include wheat, barley, corn, soybeans, sunflowers, and canola.

The sector supports one-fourth of the state’s employment, underscoring the importance of efficient infrastructure to serve its farmers.

“The Kindred grain facility is in a highly productive area of North Dakota, and our farmer-owners need efficient and effective assets to serve them now and into the future,” said Dennis Novacek, senior director of operations at CHS Dakota Plains Ag, which will manage the upgraded facility.

He added that updating grain storage and reducing load times would allow for faster and more efficient service to farmer-owners during harvest and high-volume seasons.

CHS is North America’s second-largest grain handler, operating 230 grain facilities with over 403 million bushels of licensed storage.

Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, CHS serves customers in 65 countries and employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide. Its diversified agronomy, grains, foods, and energy businesses generated US$39 billion in revenue during fiscal year 2024.

Dusek highlighted the Kindred project as part of a broader strategy to enhance grain infrastructure along key corridors.

“Projects like this one, as well as our recent Drayton, North Dakota, expansion and the new grain elevator coming online in Worthing, South Dakota, are helping us build our grain supply chain along the Interstate 29 corridor,” he said.

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