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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - One oilseed crushing plant in eastern North Dakota is switching from soybeans to canola. A few miles away, farmers are banking on a bright future with beans, with plans for a crushing plant of their own.
The situation in the Red River Valley illustrates the paradoxical state of the nation's biodiesel industry, and the decisions facing crushers over whether to refine oil for food or fuel.
On one hand, only a quarter of the current production capacity is being used and the number of new plants coming on line has slowed dramatically. On the other, biodiesel sales volume continues to rise, and government mandates call for even more biodiesel use in coming years.
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