Senator John Hoeven marked the grand opening of the Columbia Grain Pulse Processing Plant in Valley City on April 1. The new facility, which covers 11,000 square feet, can process up to 40,000 tons of pulse crops annually, including dry edible beans, peas, and lentils. Hoeven said that investments like this plant strengthen North Dakota’s role as a leader in pulse production and support the state’s farm economy.
The development of local processing facilities is important because it provides nearby markets for producers and helps build resilience against international market challenges. North Dakota farmers produced more than 423,000 metric tons of dry edible beans in 2025 and are also leading producers of dry peas and lentils.
Hoeven explained that supporting value-added agriculture through projects such as year-round E15 sales is one way to expand domestic demand for U.S. agricultural products. He also discussed his work with Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman to secure additional farm assistance measures. These include expanding Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) to cover more producer losses, making prevented planting acres eligible under FBA, increasing support for specialty crops and sugar producers, and raising loan limits for farm ownership and operations.
“This pulse processing plant is an exciting opportunity for North Dakota farmers, giving them a convenient, local market for the high-quality crops they produce. By expanding domestic demand for U.S.-produced ag commodities, we can make the farm economy more resilient against challenging international market conditions, like our farmers are facing right now,” said Hoeven. “We continue working to get our ag producers through this tough stretch until the enhanced farm safety net provisions we passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill come into full effect in October. President Trump is a vital ally in this effort, and we appreciate his support for moving the assistance package that I’m working to craft with Senate Ag Committee Chairman Boozman.”
Hoeven has served as governor of North Dakota before being elected to represent the state in the U.S. Senate according to his official website. He resides in Bismarck with his wife and family according to his official website. His background includes roles as president and CEO of the Bank of North Dakota according to his official website, along with degrees from Dartmouth College and Northwestern University according to his official website.
Hoeven serves on several key committees focused on appropriations; agriculture; nutrition; forestry; energy; and natural resources according to his official website. He ran on a platform supporting energy production and agricultural growth while previously fostering economic development during his time as governor as noted by his official website.
