South Dakota panel OKs project to connect soybean plant to state rail line

Rail News Home Short Lines & Regionals 4/20/2020 Rail News: Short Lines & Regionals
The project is necessary so that the Dakota Missouri Valley and Western Railroad can haul soybeans from a terminal in Britton to the AGP plant in Aberdeen, South Dakota.Photo – Dakota, Missouri Valley and Western Railroad's website

The Dakota, Missouri Valley and Western Railroad (DMVW) last week received approval from the South Dakota Railroad Board to install a switch and access to track on a state-owned rail line.

The project is necessary so that soybeans can be hauled by rail from the Wheaton Dumont grain terminal in Britton to the Ag Processing Inc. (AGP) plant on the east side of Aberdeen, South Dakota, according to a report on keoland.com. 

AGP operates 10 soybean processing plants in five Midwestern states, including in Aberdeen.

The project is estimated to cost $1.4 million. Railroad and AGP officials initially sought a grant of $464,000 for what they described as the state's share of the project. However, board members suggested a loan instead. DMVW and AGP decided they would rather fully funding the project, the news site reported.