Spiritwood (Cargill)  Officials report that the Cargill Malting Plant located at the Spiritwood Energy Park will close in October this year.

Cargill Corporate Communications spokesperson April Nelson says the 55 employees at Spiritwood,  may apply for other open positions at Cargill, either in North Dakota or other locations.

She says, “The decision to close a plant is never easy, but reduced demand for 6-row crops, a North Dakota climate not conducive to the more in-demand 2-row crop and low utilization of the plant made the closure necessary.  We want this decision to have the least impact possible on North Dakota growers. Growers were notified that Cargill would not continue its Contract growing program prior to the 2018 season so they could make alternate contracting and growing choices.”

Cargill Malt will honor all existing contracts, supplying malt out of Spiritwood until the end of September 2018.

Nelson says Cargill has worked with employees, in several transition benefits such as severance for salaried employees and will be working closely with the union regarding the effects of this decision for bargaining unit employees.

Nelson says Cargill still has over 200 employees at facilities in North Dakota.

She adds, “Cargill remains committed to North Dakota. We employ approximately 230 North Dakotans at our West Fargo and Wahpeton facilities, and will continue our support and investment in those communities.”

The Spiritwood Cargill Malt Plant processes barley into malt for the beer and malt beverage industry.