Key facts
- Green Acres Milling, a farmer-owned business, is constructing a new oat processing facility in Albert Lea, Minnesota.
- The facility is slated for completion in 2026 and will have an annual capacity of 39,420 tonnes of finished oat products.
- The mill utilizes advanced technology, including optical sorters and integrated scales, for product purity and traceability.
- Over 130 farmers are financially invested in the project, with farmers holding over 90% ownership.
- The project aims to provide traceable, allergen-free oats, support regenerative sourcing, and strengthen regional grain economies.
- Steward provided a $20 million subordinate construction loan to support the buildout and operation of the mill.
Green Acres Milling is constructing a state-of-the-art oat processing facility in Albert Lea, Minnesota, with an expected completion date in 2026. The farmer-owned cooperative aims to address a gap in domestic infrastructure for traceable, allergen-free oats and bolster regional grain economies.
The facility will feature advanced technology, including three optical sorters and 17 integrated process scales, to ensure product purity and provide supply chain transparency from farm to finished product. With an annual capacity of 39,420 tonnes, the mill is designed to offer fair pricing and long-term contracts to its over 130 farmer owners, who collectively hold more than 90% of the mill's ownership.
This initiative supports regenerative agriculture practices by creating a stable local buyer for oats, encouraging diversified crop rotations and soil health. The project has secured a $20 million subordinate construction loan from Steward, which will be disbursed in stages as construction milestones are met. The overall project cost is estimated at $68.8 million.