Agriculture

Terminated Fufeng Project in Grand Forks Sparks Hearing on Chinese Investments in U.S.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (center) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley (right)WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is in agreement with North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer about the importance of considering foreign agricultural investments from a national security position. A hearing was held by the Senate Armed Services Committee to address Chinese…

Titan Machinery sees record-breaking revenue

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Titan Machinery reports a record-breaking revenue of $2.2 billion for fiscal 2023, an increase of almost 30% compared to 2022. The company’s gross total reached $583 million through the fiscal fourth quarter, which ended December 31st. It is an increase of more than $75 million in revenue compared to last year. Titan Machinery has attributed…

Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Clay County, 1st Case in Northwestern MN

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KFGO) — Clay County is the 39th county in Minnesota with a confirmed case of Emerald Ash Borer after a Moorhead city forester found evidence of the disease while pruning trees. It is the first in northwestern Minnesota. Emerald Ash Borer larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree…

Grand Forks City Council Votes To End Controversial Fufeng Project

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR/KFGO) — Grand Forks City Council votes five to zero to scrap plans to bring the controversial Fufeng project to Grand Forks. Two members were absent. The move ends a lengthy debate over the China-based corn milling plant. It follows a letter last week from an assistant secretary of the Air Force who cited national security concerns…

U.S. Air Force: Fufeng Grand Forks Project Presents Threat to National Security

Grand Forks Mayor Requests Project Be Stopped, Pending City Council Approval

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR) — A U.S. Air Force assistant secretary says the force’s position on Fufeng’s project in Grand Forks is unambiguous: it presents a significant threat to national security. That was in a letter to Sen. John Hoeven by Andrew P. Hunter, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics. He wrote the project presents both…

Cattle Contract Library Pilot Program Goes Live

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR) — USDA launching the Cattle Contract Library Pilot Program. Its goal is to improve transparency and competition in cattle markets. It will allow users to search terms and information in active contracts used for the purchase of fed cattle. The library also has information on commonly used cattle contract terms. North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven is the…

Fufeng USA Looking To Move Ahead With Grand Forks Project After Federal Agency Review Suddenly Ends

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) — A company with ties to China, Fufeng USA, is moving ahead with its proposed wet corn milling plant in Grand Forks. The move comes after the federal agency tasked with reviewing the project determined that the land acquisition was not a “covered transaction” and they do not have jurisdiction. The Committee on Foreign Investment in…

$400 Million Soybean Crushing Plant Planned North of Grand Forks

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) — With China’s Fufeng corn milling plant proposal for Grand Forks still under government review, the city will now be the location of a new $400 million soybean crushing plant. The announcement comes from Epitome Energy and North Dakota Department of Commerce. The plant will be able to process up to 42 million bushels of soybeans…

Titan Machinery Inc. increases profits by 47% for 3rd quarter

A West Fargo-based company announced it has increased its profits by 47 percent globally.

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Titan Machinery Inc., headquartered in West Fargo, has reached a gross total of just under $670 million through the fiscal third quarter which ended October 31st. It’s a $200 million revenue increase compared to last year at this time. The company’s gross profit margin also rose just above 20 percent and just under $140 million…

U.S. House passes bill to avoid rail strike, Senate will vote next

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR) — The U.S. House passed a resolution forcing unions to accept a tentative agreement reached earlier this year between railroad managers and their workers making a strike illegal. The House also passed a second bill providing seven days of paid sick leave to railroad workers. The two bills are heading to the Senate, which has until December…