ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202
DATES: 1941-1973
SIZE: 2.5 linear feet
ACQUISITION: The North Dakota Mill and Elevator Records, Production Manager's Files were transferred from the State Historical Society of North Dakota to the Department of Special Collections in November 1996.
ACCESS: Available for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.
RELATED COLLECTIONS:
RS 30347: General Manager's Files
RS 30348: Assistant Manager's Files
RS 30350: Advertising Department Files
RS 30352: Insurance Claim Files
RS 30353: Quarterly Financial Reports
RS 30906: Audit Reports
RS 31515: Mill Equipment Files
"The North Dakota Mill and Elevator Association began operating October 22, 1922 as a value-added market for wheat produced in North Dakota. In the early 1900s, the flour mills and grain exchange in Minneapolis were the primary wheat markets for North Dakota farmers and elevators. After freight costs to Minneapolis were deducted from Minneapolis market prices, North Dakota farmers received a low price for their wheat. The North Dakota Mill came into existence to help solve this problem.
The North Dakota Mill facilities include six milling units, a terminal elevator and a packing warehouse to prepare bagged products for shipment. All Mill facilities are located in Grand Forks and have been paid for from operating profits.
With six milling units, the Mill produces and ships 34,000 cwt. Of milled products daily. In addition, the Mill ships over 11,000 cwt. Of food grade bran and wheat midds daily. The Mill cleans, processes and mills over 78,000 bushels of top quality North Dakota wheat daily. On an annual basis, the Mill adds value to 23 million bushels of spring and durum wheat.
The terminal elevator has a storage capacity for 4.3 million bushels of wheat. The terminal elevator blends, cleans and transfers wheat to the six milling units and provides wheat storage to farmers, country elevators and government agencies.
Seventy percent of the Mill's flour and semolina is shipped on bulk rail cars and trucks, 30% of finished products are packaged in 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 pound bags for shipment via boxcars and trucks. Product is also packed in totes/super sacks for shipment. The Mill also sells a line of bread machine and pancake mixes for the retail trade.
The Mill also has an organic certification for processing organic wheat products.
The North Dakota Mill receives no funds or financial assistance from the State of North Dakota to subsidize the milling operations. Selling value- added milled wheat products to bakery and pasta customers, as well as retail and food service suppliers, generates all operating funds. Over 90% of sales revenues are derived from customers outside the State to create value-added income for the State of North Dakota. The North Dakota Mill supports the local economy with a payroll of $7,800,000 and supply purchases of $7,300,000 annually.
The North Dakota Mill and Elevator Association has contributed in excess of 50% of its profits to the North Dakota State General Fund for more than 35 years and continues to be a valuable asset to the State of North Dakota.
The North Dakota Mill and Elevator Association is the only state-owned milling facility in the United States. The North Dakota Mill and Elevator Association has, over the years, worked cooperatively with state agencies in promoting North Dakota and its high quality products by participating with and hosting international trade teams and serving as a resource center for training, research and testing."
Source: "NDM History (Nov 05)," http://www.ndmill.com/ndmill/mill/history.htm (accessed February 2007)
The Production Manager's Files date from 1941-1973, and contain correspondence and memoranda, monthly work sheets, and production reports.
Box 1
Folder
Box 2
Folder
Return to: Agriculture
Return to: Business
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