NEW YORK — Bion Environmental Technologies Inc. and cattle feeder Dakota Valley Growers (DVG) signed a letter of intent to develop a 15,000-head sustainable beef cattle operation.

The groups expect annual production to yield around 42,500 head of beef cattle.

“Bion can help us produce a better, more sustainable product and improve our bottom line at the same time,” said Russell Edgar, DVG founder. “We are eager to get started. We have an opportunity to feed cattle right here in North Dakota, instead of sending more than 900,000 feeder calves south every year. That will increase local demand for corn and other feeds, services and jobs. We all win. That’s good business for Dakota Valley Growers and good business for North Dakota and our corn farmers and cow-calf producers.”

DVG is a sixth-generation, family owned and operated farming and cattle feeding operation based in Bathgate, ND. DVG farms 4,200 acres, producing corn, alfalfa, grass hay, beans, barley and beef.

The DVG facility will feature indoor barns with slated floors and continuous manure removal and processing. With Bion’s Gen3Tech system, any volatile ammonia nitrogen in the manure stream will be captured and stabilized. It will then be upcycled to a low carbon “Climate Smart” pure nitrogen fertilizer product.

Bion estimates 4,000 tonnes of nitrogen fertilizer will be produced from the DVG cattle, which is enough fertilizer to cover 11,000 acres of North Dakota corn.

“North Dakota has a long and rich farming and ranching history,” said Ed Schafer, a member of Bion’s board and former US Secretary of Agriculture and North Dakota governor. “It may have made sense in the past to ship both our corn and calves south for finishing — no longer. We look forward to working with the Edgars and the North Dakota Livestock Alliance, Beef Commission, and Stockmen’s Association, and other stakeholders to develop projects to supply the most climate-smart — and water-smart — beef cattle in the world, from right here in North Dakota.”