<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000948218 <NAME> MINN DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> NOV-30-1998 <CASH> 992 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 12,792 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 82,635 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 99,205 <PP&E> 166,763 <DEPRECIATION> 55,779 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 226,386 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 84,181 <BONDS> 12,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 18,483 <COMMON> 120 <OTHER-SE> 68,695 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 226,386 <SALES> 53,349 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 53,273 <CGS> 19,433 <TOTAL-COSTS> 19,433 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,394 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,230 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,566 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,566 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,566 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0