10-Q

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended: February 28, 2006

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 AND 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file: No. 33-94644

MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

North Dakota	23-7222188
(State or other jurisdiction of Incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

7525 Red River Road Wahpeton, North Dakota	58075
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(701) 642-8411
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

YES    x NO    o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

YES    o NO    x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

YES    o NO    x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class of Common Stock	Outstanding at April 11, 2006
$250 Par Value	473

        Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative has previously registered securities for offer and sale pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). As a result of that previous registration under the Securities Act, under Sections 15(d) and 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Company is obligated to file quarterly reports on form 10-Q, annual reports on Form 10-K and supplemental reports on Form 8-K. However, the Company has not registered any of its securities under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. The Company is exempt from any obligation to register its securities under the Exchange Act due to the provisions of Section 12(g)(2)(E), which exempts from Exchange Act registration any security of an issuer, such as the Company, which is a “cooperative association” as defined in the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1929. As a result, those provisions of the Exchange Act, which are applicable only to securities registered under Section 12 of that act, do not apply to shares issued by the Company. The provisions, which do not apply to the Company’s shares, include the regulation of proxies under Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the reporting and other obligations of directors, officers and principal stockholders under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
(In Thousands)

	Feb 28, 2006 (Unaudited)			Aug 31, 2005 (Audited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash	$	106		$	651
Receivables:
Trade accounts		9,263			9,405
Growers		22			4,103
Other		24			37
		9,309			13,545
Inventories:
Refined sugar, pulp and molasses to be sold on a pooled basis		41,123			19,730
Nonmember refined sugar		543			201
Yeast		102			115
Materials and supplies		6,393			7,038
Beet and Juice Inventory		25,162			—
Other Inventory		4,232			—
		77,555			27,084
Deferred charges		484			1,445
Prepaid expenses		479			397
Other		436			1,236
Current deferred income tax asset		541			541
Total current assets		88,910			44,899
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Land and land improvements		22,959			22,959
Buildings		37,264			37,264
Factory equipment		130,949			130,803
Other equipment		4,092			3,574
Construction in progress		3,550			2,316
		198,814			196,917
Less accumulated depreciation		(100,702	)		(97,088	)
		98,112			99,828
OTHER ASSETS:
Investments restricted for bonds payable		1,425			1,492
Investment in stock of other corporations, unconsolidated
marketing subsidiaries and other cooperatives		10,834			11,039
Other		1,423			1,739
		13,682			14,269
	$	200,704		$	158,996

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In Thousands)

	Feb 28, 2006 (Unaudited)		Aug 31, 2005 (Audited)
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ INVESTMENT
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Short-term notes payable	$	41,500	$	9,800
Current portion of long-term debt		3,600		3,600
Current portion of bonds payable		1,780		1,725
		5,380		5,325
Accounts payable:
Trade		2,263		2,220
Growers		19,231		9,966
		21,494		12,186
Advances to affiliate		583		1,473
Accrued liabilities		3,267		3,681
Total current liabilities		72,224		32,465
LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF CURRENT PORTION		17,500		19,900
BONDS PAYABLE		18,165		19,230
LONG TERM DEFERRED TAX LIABILITY		1,300		1,300
OTHER		1,126		672
COMMITTMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES		—		—
Total liabilities		110,315		73,567
MINORITY INTEREST IN EQUITY OF SUBSIDIARY		1,853		2,019
MEMBERS’ INVESTMENT:
Preferred stock:
Class A – 100,000 shares authorized, $105 par value;
72,200 shares issued and outstanding		7,581		7,581
Class B – 100,000 shares authorized, $75 par value;
72,200 shares issued and outstanding		5,415		5,415
Class C – 100,000 shares authorized, $76 par value;
72,200 shares issued and outstanding		5,487		5,487
		18,483		18,483
Common stock, 600 shares authorized, $250 par value;
issued and outstanding, 475 shares at February 28,
2006 and 477 shares at August 31, 2005		119		119
Paid in capital in excess of par value		32,094		32,094
Unit retention capital		1,380		1,380
Qualified allocated patronage		723		723
Nonqualified allocated patronage		28,482		23,695
Retained earnings		7,255		6,916
		88,536		83,410
	$	200,704	$	158,996

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended February 28,						Six Months Ended February 28,
	2006			2005			2006			2005
REVENUE:
From sales of sugar, co-products, and yeast, net of discounts	$	54,428		$	62,626		$	104,446		$	124,774
Other income (expense)		53			14			99			79
		54,481			62,640			104,545			124,853
EXPENSES:
Production costs of sugar, co-products,
and yeast sold		19,685			18,555			34,245			34,342
Sales and distribution costs		6,998			7,678			15,330			19,895
General and administrative		1,637			1,768			3,127			3,292
Interest		978			877			1,661			1,589
Loss on disposition of property and equipment		28			0			26			—
		29,326			28,877			54,389			59,117
NET PROCEEDS RESULTING FROM MEMBER AND
NON-MEMBER BUSINESS BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST	$	25,155		$	33,763		$	50,156			65,734
MINORITY INTEREST IN INCOME OF SUBSIDIARIES		(34	)		(48	)		(84	)		(100	)
NET PROCEEDS RESULTING FROM MEMBER
AND NON-MEMBER BUSINESS	$	25,121		$	33,715		$	50,072		$	65,634
DISTRIBUTION OF NET PROCEEDS:
Credited to members’ investment:
Components of net income:
Income from non-member business	$	136		$	198		$	339		$	405
Patronage income		(49	)		4,892			4,787			7,593
Net income credited to members’ investment		87			5,090			5,126			7,998
Payments to members for sugarbeets, net of unit
retention capital		25,035			28,625			44,947			57,636
NET PROCEEDS RESULTING FROM MEMBER AND
NON-MEMBER BUSINESS	$	25,121		$	33,715		$	50,072		$	65,634

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)

	Six Months Ended February 28,
	2006			2005
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Income allocated to members’ investment	$	5,126		$	7,998
Add (deduct) noncash items:
Depreciation and amortization		3,932			3,853
Equipment disposals – loss		26			—
Net income allocated from unconsolidated marketing subsidiaries		(5	)		(4	)
Minority interest in equity of subsidiaries		84			100
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable and advances		3,346			5,448
Inventory and prepaid expenses		(49,752	)		(61,745	)
Deferred charges and other assets		1,392			1,277
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities		9,347			11,465
Net cash used in operating activities		(26,504	)		(31,607	)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment		2			—
Capital expenditures		(2,070	)		(1,318	)
Net proceeds from patronage refunds and equity revolvements		209			217
Issuance of notes receivable		—			(128	)
Restricted bond fund investment		67			(26	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(1,792	)		(1,256	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds from issuance of short-term debt		31,700			36,830
Payment of long-term debt		(3,410	)		(3,360	)
Payment of financing fees		(289	)		(313	)
Payment of unit retains and allocated patronage		—			(10	)
Dividends paid to minority shareholder		(250	)		—
Sale and repurchase of common stock, net		—			1
Net cash provided by financing activities		27,751			33,148
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH		(545	)		285
CASH, BEGINNING OF YEAR		651			270
CASH, END OF QUARTER	$	106		$	555
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash payments for:
Interest	$	1,516		$	1,356
Income taxes, net of refunds	$	93		$	6

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. The consolidated financial statements for the three-month and six-month periods ended February 28, 2006 and 2005 are unaudited and reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and operating results for the interim period. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, contained in the Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders previously submitted in the Company’s Annual 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005. The results of operations for the six months ended February 28, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year ending August 31, 2006.

2. Inventories of refined sugar, pulp and molasses to be sold on a pooled basis are valued at net realizable value, while third-party purchased refined sugar to be sold on a pooled basis is valued at the lower of cost or market. Inventory of yeast is valued at the lower of average cost or market. Materials and supplies are valued at most recent purchase that approximates cost. During the periods when sugarbeets are purchased from growers, but not yet converted into bin sugar, that inventory is valued at grower payment cost. In valuing inventories at net realizable value, the Company, in effect sells the remaining inventory to the subsequent periods sugar and co-product pool. Pooled product inventories will normally increase to a peak valuation at the end of a campaign and decrease to a low point of valuation at or near fiscal year end.

3. In September 2005, the company declared a revolvement of the remaining 92% of the unit retains and allocated patronage for the 1995 crop totaling $2,533,591 and approximately 45% of the 1996 crop unit retains and allocated patronage totaling $2,008,115 effective August 31, 2005. These amounts were accrued as of August 31, 2005 and paid to the stockholders on September 30, 2005.

4. In October 2005, the company allocated to members $5,191,808 of patronage from the 2004 crop in the form of non-qualified allocated patronage credits.

5. As of February 28, 2006, the Company had $98.0 million of seasonal credit capacity, with $41.5 million being utilized for a remaining seasonal credit capacity of $56.5 million. As of August 31, 2005, the Company had $45.0 million of seasonal credit capacity, with $9.8 million being utilized, for a remaining seasonal credit capacity of $35.2 million. The increase in seasonal debt from August 31, 2005 to February 28, 2006 is due to normal seasonal operations. Co-Bank extended to the Company an additional $15.0 million line of temporary seasonal debt capacity through May 31, 2006. The Company has not used the line and does not expect to.

6. The Financial Accounting Standards Board has issued an amendment to Financial Accounting Standards No. 132, Employer’s Disclosure about Pensions and Other Post-Retirement Benefits. Such amendment requires additional disclosures to interim and annual financial statements, which are effective for the interim period ending February 28, 2006, but does not change the recognition requirements related to pensions and post-retirement benefits.

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost for the Six Months Ended February 28, 2006

000’s	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
	2006			2005			2006		2005
Service Cost	$	429		$	405		$	0	$	0
Interest Cost		701			658			0		0
Expected return on plan assets		(622	)		(548	)		0		0
Amortization of prior service cost		44			44			0		0
Amortization of transition cost		0			0			0		0
Amortization of net (gain) loss		109			109			0		0
Net periodic benefit cost	$	660		$	668		$	0	$	0

As of the six months ended February 28, 2006, the Company has made $.56 million of contributions vs. $.50 million through the six months ended February 28, 2005. The Company anticipates contributing an additional $.56 million to fund its pension plan in FY 2006 for a total of $1.12 million. Contributions in FY 2005 totaled $1.21 million.

7. The FASB issued SFAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs, an amendment of ARB 43, Chapter 4” in November 2004. SFAS No. 151 amends the guidance in ARB No. 43, Chapter 4, “Inventory  Pricing,” to clarify the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material (spoilage) so as to require such costs to be treated as current period charges. Further, this statement requires that the allocation of fixed overhead costs to inventoriable production costs be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities.  The provisions of this Statement are effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company adopted SFAS No. 151 in the quarter ended October 31, 2005. The adoption of this statement did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. However, future changes in the Company’s production or logistics could have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements as a result of SFAS No. 151.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF THE RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED AND SIX MONTHS ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2006 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2005

The following discussion and analysis relates to the financial condition and results of operations of Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative (“the Company”) for the three months and six months ended February 28, 2006 (the second quarter of the Company’s 2005-2006 fiscal year). The Company’s fiscal year runs from September 1 to August 31.

Any statements regarding future market prices, anticipated costs, agricultural results, operating results and other statements that are not historical facts contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements. The words “expect”, “project”, “estimate”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “intend”, “could”, “may”, “predict” and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, without limitation, market factors, the effect of weather and economic conditions, farm and trade policy, the available supply of sugar, available quantity and quality of sugarbeets and other factors detailed elsewhere in this and other Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated.

Critical Accounting Policies 

The accompanying discussion and analysis of our results of operations and financial condition are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. These estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. However, future events are subject to change and the best estimates and judgments may require adjustment. For a complete description of the Company’s significant accounting policies, please see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2005. Our critical accounting policies are those that have meaningful impact on the reporting of our financial condition and results, and that require significant management judgment and estimates. These policies include our accounting for (a)  inventory valuation, and (b) income taxes.

Inventory Valuation

Inventories of refined sugar, pulp and molasses to be sold on a pooled basis are valued at net realizable value, while third-party purchased refined sugar to be sold on a pooled basis is valued at the lower of cost or market. Inventory of yeast is valued at the lower of average cost or market. Materials and supplies are valued at most recent purchase that approximates cost. During the periods when sugarbeets are purchased from growers, but not yet converted into bin sugar, that inventory is valued at grower payment cost. In valuing inventories at net realizable value, the Company, in effect sells the remaining inventory to the subsequent periods sugar and co-product pool. Pooled product inventories will normally increase to a peak valuation at the end of a campaign and decrease to a low point of valuation at or near fiscal year end.

Income Taxes

The Company is a nonexempt cooperative as described under Section 1381(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Accordingly, net margins from business done with member patrons, which are allocated and paid as prescribed in Section 1392 of the Code, will be taxable to the members and not to the Company. To the extent that net margins are not allocated and paid as stated above or arise from business done with non-members, the Company shall have taxable income subject to corporate income taxes.

RESULTS FROM OPERATIONS

Comparison of the three months ended February 28, 2006 and February 28, 2005

Revenue for the three months ended February 28, 2006 decreased $8.2 million from the 2005 period, a decrease of 13.1%. Revenue from the sale of finished goods decreased $6.0 million and the change in the value of inventories decreased $2.2 million.

Revenue from the sales of sugar decreased $6.6 million, or 16.6% reflecting a 24.4% decrease in volume and a 7.8% increase in the sales price for sugar. The decrease in volume is primarily the result of a smaller crop. Sugar prices have been substantially higher on a spot market basis vs. prior years due primarily to crop damage to the United States cane sugar industry from the 2005 hurricane season, and a strengthening of consumption in the U.S.

Revenue from dried pulp sales decreased less than $.1 million or 1.4%, reflecting a 4.3% decrease in sales volume and a 2.9% increase in the average gross selling price.

Revenue from molasses sales increased $.3 million or 18.3%, reflecting a 2.4% increase in sales volume and a 15.9% increase in the average gross selling price. Beet molasses prices increased in the second quarter due to continued reduced beet and cane molasses supplies worldwide. The tightening supply situation has resulted in higher prices in the market.

Revenues from pressed pulp and tailing sales decreased $.1 million, reflecting a 43.6% decrease in sales volume. The reduced sales volume is primarily due to the pulp steam dryer operating on an even more consistent basis in 2006 resulting in no excess pressed pulp to be marketed. Continued consistent operation of the pulp steam dryer is expected to result in little future pressed pulp sales for the Company.

Revenues from yeast sales increased $0.4 million or 24.7%, reflecting a 10.7% increase in sales volume and a 14.0% increase in the average selling price. The average selling price is based upon a formula between Minn-Dak Yeast Company and Sensient whereby average selling prices to customers along with average costs of production are taken into account in establishing the price Sensient pays Minn-Dak Yeast for product. As sales volumes increase or decrease, the efficiencies of production costs will cause the formula to decrease or increase the selling price. Also, marketplace prices are somewhat higher, a reflection of much higher factory input and freight costs experienced by yeast suppliers, necessitating some pass-through of these costs to customers.

The other contributing factor to the change in revenues results from the increase in finished goods inventories. The increase in the value of finished goods inventories for the three months ended February 28, 2006 amounted to $13.8 million or $2.2 million less than the increase in the value of finished goods inventories for February 28, 2005.

In the consolidated Statement of Operations, Expenses section, production costs of sugar, co-products and yeast totaled $19.7 million, $1.1 million or 6.1% more than the prior year. The increase is mainly attributable to higher energy costs resulting from price increases and higher operations and maintenance costs associated with the crop quality when comparing the three-month period ending February 28, 2006 to the three-month period ending February 28, 2005. Marketing costs totaled $7.0 million, $.7 million or 8.9% less than the prior year. In the section Distribution of Net Proceeds, payments to members for sugarbeets, net of unit retention capital, totaled $25.0 million, a decreased of $3.6 million or 12.5%. For fiscal year 2006 the Company is projecting a payment to growers for sugarbeets totaling $65.2 million, which is $17.4 million or 21.0% less than the prior fiscal year. The decrease in payments to members is due to: (1) the result of a 21.2% decrease in tons of beets delivered by members versus the prior year, (2) 1.3% projected decrease in sugar per ton of the beets delivered versus the prior year, and (3) offset somewhat by a 9.1% projected increase in sales prices for sugar sold. The payment is based upon (i) an average delivered sugar content of 16.29%, (ii) a total sugarbeet crop to process of 1.8 million tons and (iii) the Company’s projected selling price for its sugar, which is currently estimated to be higher than the previous year.

Comparison of the six months ended February 28, 2006 and February 28, 2005

Revenue for the six months ended February 28, 2006 decreased $20.3 million from the 2005 period, a decrease of 16.3%. Revenue from the sale of finished goods decreased $10.8 million and the change in the value of inventories decreased $9.5 million.

Revenue from the sales of sugar decreased $11.2 million, or 13.9% reflecting an 18.3% decrease in volume and a 4.4% increase in the sales price for sugar. The decrease in volume is primarily the result of a smaller crop. Sugar prices have been substantially higher on a spot market basis vs. prior years due primarily crop damage to the United States cane sugar industry from the 2005 hurricane season, and a strengthening of consumption in the U.S.

Revenue from dried pulp sales increased $.3 million or 4.4%, reflecting a 1.2% decrease in sales volume and a 5.6% increase in the average gross selling price. . Prices increased due to the continued relative strength of both the European Euro and the Japanese Yen against the U.S. dollar at the time sales were contracted, and a lower ocean freight rate market, making dried pulp more attractive in the overseas markets.

Revenue from molasses sales decreased $.4 million or 10.8%, reflecting a 24.6% decrease in sales volume and a 13.8% increase in the average gross selling price. Beet molasses prices increased in the second quarter due to continued reduced beet and cane molasses supplies worldwide. The tightening supply situation has resulted in higher prices in the market. Volume decreased significantly versus the prior year due to low carryover inventories and a late start up for new crop production. These factors combined to limit the amount of molasses available to ship during the period.

Revenues from pressed pulp and tailing sales decreased $.1 million, reflecting a 45.7% decrease in sales volume. The reduced sales volume is primarily due to the pulp steam dryer operating on an even more consistent basis in 2006 vs. 2005, resulting in no excess pressed pulp to be marketed. Continued consistent operation of the pulp steam dryer is expected to result in little future pressed pulp sales for the Company.

Revenues from yeast sales increased $0.6 million or 18.3%, reflecting a 9.7% increase in sales volume and an 8.5% increase in the average selling price. The average selling price is based upon a formula between Minn-Dak Yeast Company and Sensient whereby average selling prices to customers along with average costs of production are taken into account in establishing the price Sensient pays Minn-Dak Yeast for product. As sales volumes increase or decrease, the efficiencies of production costs will cause the formula to decrease or increase the selling price. Also, marketplace prices are somewhat higher, a reflection of much higher factory input and freight costs experienced by yeast suppliers, necessitating some pass-through of these costs to customers.

The other contributing factor to the change in revenues results from the increase in finished goods inventories. The increase in the value of finished goods inventories for the six months ended February 28, 2006 amounted to $21.4 million or $9.5 million less than the increase in the value of finished goods inventories for February 28, 2005.

In the consolidated Statement of Operations, Expenses section, production costs of sugar, co-products and yeast totaled $34.2 million, $.1 million or 0.3% less than the prior year. The increase is mainly attributable to lower volume, but higher energy costs resulting from price increases and higher operations and maintenance costs associated with the crop quality when comparing the six-month period ending February 28, 2006 to the six-month period ending February 28, 2005. Marketing costs totaled $15.3 million, $4.6 million or 22.9% less than the prior year. The marketing costs were lower, as a result of a decrease in the cost of purchased sugar of approximately $2.5 million and due to less activity as it relates to the purchase of additional sugar sales allocations. In the section Distribution of Net Proceeds, payments to members for sugarbeets, net of unit retention capital, totaled $25.0 million, a decreased of $3.6 million or 12.5%. For fiscal year 2006 the Company is projecting a payment to growers for sugarbeets totaling $52.0 million, which is $13.6 million or 20.7% less than the prior fiscal year. The decrease in payments to members is due to: (1) the result of a 21.2% decrease in tons of beets delivered by members versus the prior year, (2) 1.3% projected decrease in sugar per ton of the beets delivered versus the prior year, and (3) offset somewhat by a 9.1% projected increase in sales prices for sugar sold. The payment is based upon (i) an average delivered sugar content of 16.29%, (ii) a total sugarbeet crop to process of 1.8 million tons and (iii) the Company’s projected selling price for its sugar, which is currently estimated to be higher than the previous year.

ESTIMATED FISCAL YEAR 2006 INFORMATION

The agreements between the Company and its members regarding the delivery of sugarbeets to the Company require payment for members’ sugarbeets in several installments throughout the year. As only the final payment is made after the close of the fiscal year, the first payments to members for their sugarbeets are based upon the Company’s then-current estimates of the financial results to be obtained from processing the crop and the sale of finished products. This discussion contains a summary of the Company’s current estimates of the financial results to be obtained from the Company’s processing of the 2005 sugar beet crop. Given the nature of the estimates required in connection with the payments to members for their sugarbeets, this discussion includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based largely upon the Company’s expectations and estimates of future events; as a result, they are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties. Some of those estimates, such as the selling price for the Company’s products and the quantity of sugar produced from the sugar beet crop are beyond the Company’s control. The actual results experienced by the Company may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein.

The Company’s members harvested 1.8 million tons of sugarbeets from the 2005 crop, the smallest harvested crop since the completion of the Company’s expansion completion in 1998. Sugar content of the 2005 crop at harvest was 7% below the average of the five most recent years and lower than any individual year during that period. The Company is projecting the sugar production from the 2005 crop at the lowest levels since the completion of the expansion in 1998. Unusually high levels of rainfall from May through July caused significant tonnage and quality reductions. Because of the below average yields from the 2005 crop, the Company has purchased approximately 156,000 tons of sugarbeets from a neighboring sugarbeet cooperative that had experienced a record harvest, and was interested in reducing its processing season risks associated with the large crop. The purchase of additional tons of sugarbeets is expected to have a positive impact to the operations of the Company. Due to a number of beet storage and operational factors that are subject to change when a processing season is extended, the exact amount of the positive impact is not known at this time. This forward-looking material is based on the Company’s expectations regarding the processing of the 2005 sugar beet crop (excluding the impact of the purchase of additional tons of sugarbeets by the Company); the actual production results obtained by processing those sugarbeets could differ materially from the Company’s current estimate as a result of factors such as changes in production efficiencies and storage conditions for the Company’s sugarbeets. The Company’s initial beet payment estimate totals $36.00 per ton or $.13050932 per harvested/bonus pound of sugar, with the final beet payment determined in October of 2006.

If production continues with the current fiscal year trends, the Company anticipates that actual production of sugar and co-products, at best, will meet forecasted numbers; and if the forecasted production numbers are not met, then there is a potential for a decrease in beet payment to growers for the 2005 crop sugarbeets. The Company was adversely impacted by unseasonably warm weather in January and by a shortage of beet re-haul drivers in October and November, both contributing to a reduced storage quality condition and less sugar being extracted from the sugarbeets. The Company has taken action to correct the shortage of beet re-haul drivers for future crops.

The spot price for sugar has reached levels not seen for over 20 years during the 2005-crop marketing year. The Company’s marketing subsidiary, United Sugar, has a marketing strategy; which includes a certain portion of each crop being sold in advance of the production of sugar. Because a large portion of the 2005-crop sugar was contracted prior to the rise in sugar prices, the Company did not gain the full benefit of the sugar price increases for the 2005-crop. However, marketing activity for the 2006-crop sugar has been positively impacted by the current market conditions.

The 2002 Farm Bill contains marketing allocations for sugar that could potentially restrict the company’s ability to market all the sugar it produces. The Company believes it has obtained the allocations necessary for the marketing of its entire 2005 crop. However, there are no assurances that the Company will be able to secure enough marketing allocations for crop years 2006 and 2007 (the crop years covered by the current Farm Bill) to market all of the production from the those crops. For each crop year left under the Farm Bill, the Company’s Board of Directors and Management team will be assessing the level of anticipated allocations that the Company will be receiving from the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”). Based upon that estimated level of assessment, the measurement of the risk involved in trying to secure additional allocation from other sugar processors, if needed, and the value of selling non-allocation sugar into other markets, will ultimately determine the level of planted acreage that the Company decides upon. The Company has announced to its shareholder/growers that it intends to authorize the planting of 117,000 acres of beets for the 2006 crop vs. the 108,300 acres authorized for the 2005 crop.

OTHER INFORMATION

Federal programs, regulations and trade agreements

Provisions of the current Farm Bill and existing trade agreements between the United States (“U.S.”) and various foreign countries regulate domestic and imported sugar sales in the U.S. Currently, imports provide about 20% of the total domestic consumption of sugar in the U.S., and it is the opinion of the Company and the sugar industry as a whole that any significant increase in the amount of imported sugar to the U.S. marketplace will result in serious adverse sugar pricing consequences. The United States government is pursuing an aggressive agenda on international trade.  It is seeking to negotiate new free trade agreements with a number of countries and regions that are major producers of sugar.  The Company believes these agreements, if they are realized, could negatively impact the Company’s profitability.  The primary agreements under consideration, to the Company’s knowledge, are the Free Trade Area of the Americas, the Andean Free Trade Agreement, the Thailand Free Trade Agreement, the U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement and the South African Customs Union Free Trade Agreement. Many of the countries included in these agreements are major sugar producers and exporters.  If increases in guaranteed access or reductions in sugar tariffs are included in these agreements, excess sugar from these regions could enter the U.S. market and put pressure on domestic sugar prices.

The Company and the U.S. sugar industry recognize the potential negative impact that would result if these agreements are entered into by the United States and are taking steps to actively oppose any agreement that calls for unneeded additional sugar access to domestic market place. The Company and the sugar industry intend to continue to focus significant attention on trade issues in the future.  

The current Farm Bill provides price support provisions for sugar. However, if that price support program, including the Tariff Rate Quota system for imported sugar, were eliminated in its entirety, or if the protection the United States’ price support program provides from foreign competitors were materially reduced, the Company could be materially and adversely affected. In such a situation, if the Company were not able to adopt strategies that would allow it to compete effectively in a greatly changed domestic market for sugar, the adverse affects could impact the Company’s continued viability and the desirability of grower sugarbeets for delivery to the Company.

Audit Committee, Sarbanes-Oxley regulations

The Company’s Audit Committee and management are working toward meeting all required SEC documentation, certification and best business practices as required in recently passed federal legislation (the Sarbanes-Oxley law). As the SEC adopts new rules and proposes future rules, the Company is positioning itself to continue being in compliance. The Company’s Audit Committee and management have been seeking guidance from the SEC and experts in the appropriate areas as needed.

The Company considers its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer to be its disclosure committee, responsible to the Audit Committee for presenting material facts relative to the financial statements and how they are to be disclosed in the SEC filings prior to those filings.

The Company has carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information required to be included in the Company’s periodic SEC filings relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiary).

There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Because the Company operates as a cooperative, payment for member-delivered sugarbeets, the principal raw material used in producing the sugar and agri-products it sells, are subordinated to all member business expenses. In addition, actual cash payments to members are spread over a period of approximately one year following delivery of sugarbeet crops to the Company and are net of unit retains and patronage allocated to them, all three of which remain available to meet the Company’s capital requirements. This member financing arrangement may result in an additional source of liquidity and reduced outside financing requirements in comparison to a similar business operated on a non-cooperative basis. However, because sugar is sold throughout the year (while sugarbeets are processed primarily between September and April) and because substantial amounts of equipment are required for its operations, the Company has utilized substantial outside financing on both a seasonal and long-term basis to fund such operations. The financing has been provided by Co-Bank (the “Bank”). The Company has a short-term line of credit with the Bank for calendar years 2005 and 2006 of $45.0 million, of which $1.0 million is currently available for a letter of credit. The seasonal line of credit is scheduled for renewal in May 2006. Co-Bank extended to the Company an additional $15.0 million line of temporary seasonal debt capacity through May 31, 2006. The Company has not used the line and does not expect to.

The loan agreements between the Bank and the Company obligate the company to maintain the following financial covenants, and in accordance with GAAP:

• Maintain working capital of not less than $9.0 million as of August 31, 2006.
• Maintain a long-term debt and capitalized leases to equity ratio of not greater than .8:1.
• Maintain available cash flow to current long-term debt ratio as defined in the agreement of not less than 1.25:1.

As of February 28, 2006 the Company was in compliance with its loan agreement covenants with the Bank.

Working Capital as of February 28, 2006 totals $16.7 million compared to $12.4 million at August 31, 2005, an increase of $4.3 million for the period. Increased working capital is a result of normal financing, operational and capital expenditure activities of the Company. The Company’s normal working capital position pattern is to increase during the first, second and third quarters of its fiscal year and decline during the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter decline is normally attributed to inter-campaign maintenance costs, a higher level of capital spending during the non-operating period, and the recording of shareholder equity revolvements.

The targeted working capital for August 31, 2006 is approximately $10.4 million dollars and, in the Company’s opinion, will be attained. The Company funds its capital expenditure and debt retirement needs primarily from operating activities. The Company has approximately 5-years of Co-Bank long-term debt remaining and it has two tax exempt bond issues, one with $5.9 million remaining and one with $13.3 million remaining. During the year ended August 31, 2005, the Company began reclassifying certain of the bonds from long-term to short-term liabilities to reflect the bond amortization schedule. With a combined bank long-term debt payment and two long-term bond payments, the Company’s working capital position has been decreasing, and as a result, the Company has anticipated re-structuring its remaining $17.5 million long term debt package with Co-Bank when working capital requirements show a need for doing so. The Company has held preliminary discussions with Co-Bank regarding the future restructuring of its long-term debt package and it does not anticipate difficulty in achieving debt restructuring with Co-Bank in the future.

The primary factor for the changes in the Company’s financial condition for the six months ended February 28, 2006 was due to the seasonal needs of the 2005/2006 sugarbeet-processing season. The cash used to provide for operations of $26.5 million and investing activities of $1.8 million was funded through financing activities of $27.8 million. The net cash provided through financing activities of $27.8 million was primarily provided through proceeds from the issuance of short-term debt of $31.7 million; offset by payment of long-term debt of $3.4 million.

Contractual Obligations	Total		Less Than 1 Year		1 – 3 Years		4 – 5 Years		After 5 Years
Long-Term Debt	$	21.1MM	$	3.6MM	$	14.4MM	$	3.1MM		0
Bonds Payable	$	19.2MM	$	1.8MM	$	5.9MM	$	3.1MM	$	9.1MM
Operating Leases	$	2.2MM	$	.8MM	$	1.4MM		0		0
Unconditional Purchase Obligations		0		0		0		0		0
Other Long-Term Obligations		0		0		0		0		0
Total Contractual Cash Obligations	$	43.2MM	$	6.2MM	$	21.7MM	$	6.2MM	$	9.1MM

Capital expenditures for the six months ended February 28, 2006 totaled $3.5 million. Capital expenditures for fiscal year 2006 are currently estimated at $4.1 million, which is less than the amount spent on average in the prior four years.

PART II.   OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.   Legal Proceedings

None

Item 2.   Changes in Securities

None

Item 3.   Defaults upon Senior Securities

None

Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None

Item 5.   Other Information

None

Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

a) Exhibits

Item #31.1 Section 302 Certification of the President & Chief Executive Officer

Item #31.2 Section 302 Certification of the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Item #31.3 Section 302 Certification of the Controller & Chief Accounting Officer

Item #32.1 Section 906 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

b) Reports on Form 8-K

        The Company did not file any reports on Form 8-K during this quarter.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

		MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE (Registrant)
Date:	April 14, 2006	/s/   DAVID H. ROCHE
		David H. Roche President and Chief Executive Officer
Date:	April 14, 2006	/s/   STEVEN M. CASPERS
		Steven M. Caspers Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, David H. Roche, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The Company’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e)) for the Company and have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation.

c) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The Company’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors:

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	4-14-06	/s/   David H. Roche
		President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Steven M. Caspers, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The Company’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e)) for the Company and have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation.

c) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The Company’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors:

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	4-14-06	/s/   Steven M. Caspers
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-31.3

EXHIBIT 31.3

CERTIFICATION

I, Allen E. Larson, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The Company’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e)) for the Company and have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation.

c) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The Company’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors:

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	4-14-06	/s/   Allen E. Larson
		Controller and Chief Accounting Officer

EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

906 CERTIFICATION

The undersigned certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350 as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended February 28, 2006, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the accompanying Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:	April 14, 2006	/s/   David H. Roche
		President and Chief Executive Officer
		/s/   Steven M. Caspers
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer