Cavalier County, North Dakota
The Cavalier County, North Dakota BDO Zone for Canola Seed is rated ‘A’.
Rating Issue Date: April 13, 2026.
'A' ratings denote high prospective viability of Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure and low expectations of default risk in the Zone. Capacity to support new biobased plant operations is considered strong.
Cavalier County, ND, BDO Zone Overview
Feedstock quantities are expressed in tons per year (tons/yr), while feedstock costs are expressed in USD ($). Maximum transport distance is based on a 75-mile driving distance from the center point (Munich, ND).
BDO Zone Assets
- One of the strongest producing canola seed regions on the continent.
- Over 5,000 multi-generational canola farmers in the Supply Zone, of which 35% have over 1,000 acres.
- Mature market and experienced workforce.
- Strong transportation redundancy and favorable regulations.
- Robust on-farm storage.
BDO Zone Liabilities
- Climate and drought vulnerability.
- Historical canola seed price volatility.
- Potentially intensifying future demand.
- Infrastructure gaps.
- Potential labor shortages during peak seasons.
Infrastructure
- Location: Highway 20 & 88th St NE, Munich, Cavalier County, North Dakota.
- Site Size: 130 acres (Topography: Flat; Zoning: Unknown; Pricing Note: Unknown).
- Overview: The proposed development site is a 130-acre greenfield parcel in western Cavalier County, near Munich, ND, situated directly on Highway 20 with adjacency to an active short-line railroad. The site is privately owned and available for sale or lease, featuring flat glacial till soils with high bearing strength well-suited for conventional construction. The site sits outside FEMA-designated flood hazard areas and has no history of heavy industrial contamination. North Dakota’s regulatory environment is generally considered business-friendly, and county-level rezoning and state permitting processes are expected to be straightforward.
- Infrastructure:
- Electric: Cavalier Rural Electric Cooperative, which has a line running along 88th Street to the north of the site. Upgrading to 3-phase power and industrial-scale capacity would require investment in substation upgrades and new distribution lines. (Contact: Marty Tetrault, Manager, Cavalier Rural Electric Cooperative, 701-256-5511)
- Natural Gas: There is no natural gas accessible to the site. A future project would need to evaluate alternatives such as propane, electric heating, or biomass-derived thermal energy, or invest in extending gas pipeline infrastructure to the site.
- Water: Available at the site via two 4-inch lines on the west side of the property, drawn from the Langdon Rural Water System. For untreated water and fire protection, production wells would tap the underlying Munich Aquifer. (Contact: Jeremy Schuler, General Manager, NRWD, (701) 265-8503, jeremy@nrwd.us)
- Wastewater: The City of Munich has a lagoon located approximately one mile from the site, but not a mechanical wastewater treatment plant. If a future project requires onsite treatment, there is a permitting process through the Lake Region District Health Unit. (Contact: Craig Schommer, Mayor of Munich, cjschom@gmail.com)
- Telecommunications: The site is served by United & Turtle Mountain Communications (UTMA), and there is a pedestal on the corner of the site by 88th Street and the highway. This could currently serve the site with up to 10 gig internet. (Contact: Ross Feil, (701) 256-5156)
- Waste Disposal: The City of Langdon (27 miles) provides garbage disposal service for the City of Munich, and the City of Munich operates an inert landfill for construction-type materials such as concrete and wood.
- Transportation Access:
- Situated directly along Highway 20, which becomes Route 34 at the Canadian border approximately 20 miles to the north; Highway 5 is 7 miles north and Highway 66 is 3 miles south.
- For interstate transit, I-29 is approximately 80 miles east and I-94 is approximately 140 miles south. North Dakota permits gross vehicle weight (GVW) limits of 105,500 lbs, well above the 80,000 lb federal standard; spring thaw load restrictions may apply seasonally.
- Adjacent to the Munich branch line, a short-line railroad operated by Northern Plains Railroad (NPRR), with connections to BNSF Railway in Ardoch, North Dakota and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.
- Commercial air travel via Devils Lake Municipal Airport (40 miles), Jamestown Regional Airport (121 miles), and Grand Forks International Airport (127 miles).
- Site Contacts:
- Economic Development Contact: Shannon Duerr, Cavalier County Job Development Authority, ND, shannon@utma.com
- Site Owner: Griffin Zimmer, griffin.zimmer@gmail.com
Local Grants and Incentives
Primary Sector Business ProgramProvides a corporate income tax exemption for up to 5 years, with the potential for an additional 5-year extension for projects that process North Dakota agricultural commodities. This incentive is particularly relevant for value-added agriculture and bioproduct manufacturing projects.
Bank of North Dakota Flex PACE ProgramA financing support program that provides interest rate buydowns on commercial loans through a partnership between the Bank of North Dakota and local economic development entities. Funding can support land, buildings, infrastructure, and equipment, helping improve project feasibility and reduce overall financing costs.
Automation Tax CreditOffers a tax credit of up to 15% on qualifying investments in manufacturing and processing equipment, including automation systems and production infrastructure. This incentive helps offset capital costs associated with industrial and biobased manufacturing facilities.
Additional Local SupportAdditional local support may be available through flexible financing participation and infrastructure assistance programs, depending on project scope, investment size, and site location within Cavalier County.
