A new grain processing plant has opened in Bismark, North Dakota, processing pulse crops to meet local demand.

The Columbia Grain Pulse Processing Plant in Valley City has the capacity to process 40,000 tons of pulse crops, dried seeds of legumes.

The plant was opened by Senator John Hoeven, who hopes the facility will increase demand for domestic products and help producers meet that demand.

Senator Hoeven said: “By expanding domestic demand for US-produced ag commodities, we can make the farm economy more resilient against challenging international market conditions, like our farmers are facing right now.”