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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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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 October 31, 2000
|or                                             
|/ /                                             |  | Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
|                                                |  |                                                                                         

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Commission File No. 33-99834

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DAKOTA GROWERS PASTA COMPANY(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

|North Dakota(State of incorporation) |  | 45-0423511(IRS Employer Identification No.)
|------------------------------------ |  | -------------------------------------------

One Pasta Avenue, P.O. Box 21, Carrington, ND 58421-0021(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)

(701) 652-2855(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 (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past
90 days. Yes /x/  No / /

The
number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's classes of common stock were 1,156 shares of membership stock, par value $125.00, and 11,253,121 of equity stock, par value $2.50,
as of December 15, 2000.

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## 

PART IFINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DAKOTA GROWERS PASTA COMPANY       CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS       (In Thousands, Except Share Information)

|                                       |                                                                                                                   | October 31,
2000              |                            | July 31,
2000                             |        
|-------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | -------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | -------
|
|ASSETS                                 |                                                                                                                  
|CURRENT ASSETS                         |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|                                       | Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                         |                               | $                          | 2,949                                     |        
|                                       | Short-term investments (restricted)                                                                               |                               |                            | 1,974                                     |        
|                                       | Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for cash discounts and doubtful accounts of $428 and $348, respectively |                               |                            | 11,835                                    |        
|                                       | Other receivables                                                                                                 |                               |                            | 597                                       |        
|                                       | Inventories                                                                                                       |                               |                            | 20,736                                    |        
|                                       | Prepaid expenses                                                                                                  |                               |                            | 1,489                                     |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               | Total current assets       |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT                 |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|                                       | In service                                                                                                        |                               |                            | 110,275                                   |        
|                                       | Construction in process                                                                                           |                               |                            | 2,991                                     |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               | 113,266                    |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   | Less accumulated depreciation |                            |                                           | (28,731
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               | Net property and equipment |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|INVESTMENT IN COOPERATIVE BANKS        |                                                                                                                   |                               | 2,037                      |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|OTHER ASSETS                           |                                                                                                                   |                               | 3,307                      |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   | $                             | 129,459                    |                                           | $      
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' INVESTMENT    |                                                                                                                  
|CURRENT LIABILITIES                    |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|                                       | Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt                                                               |                               | $                          | 3,734                                     |        
|                                       | Accounts payable                                                                                                  |                               |                            | 6,180                                     |        
|                                       | Dividends payable                                                                                                 |                               |                            | 4,477                                     |        
|                                       | Accrued grower payments                                                                                           |                               |                            | 1,178                                     |        
|                                       | Accrued liabilities                                                                                               |                               |                            | 5,065                                     |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               | Total current liabilities  |                                           |        
|COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES          |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current portion |                                                                                                                   |                               | 49,733                     |                                           |        
|DEFERRED INCOME TAXES                  |                                                                                                                   |                               | 4,016                      |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               | Total liabilities          |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK             |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|                                       | Series A, 6% non-cumulative, $100 par value, issued 700 and 733 shares, respectively                              |                               |                            | 70                                        |        
|                                       | Series B, 2% non-cumulative, $100 par value, issued 525 shares                                                    |                               |                            | 53                                        |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               | Total preferred stock      |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|MEMBERS' INVESTMENT                    |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|                                       | Convertible preferred stock Series C, 6% non-cumulative, $100 par value, issued 924 shares                        |                               |                            | 92                                        |        
|                                       | Membership stock, $125 par value, issued 1,156 and 1,158 shares, respectively                                     |                               |                            | 145                                       |        
|                                       | Equity stock, $2.50 par value, issued 11,253,121 shares                                                           |                               |                            | 28,133                                    |        
|                                       | Additional paid-in capital                                                                                        |                               |                            | 22,876                                    |        
|                                       | Accumulated allocated earnings                                                                                    |                               |                            | 4,596                                     |        
|                                       | Accumulated unallocated earnings (deficit)                                                                        |                               |                            | (889                                      | )      
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               | Total members' investment  |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            | Total liabilities and members' investment |        
|                                       |                                                                                                                   |                               |                            |                                           |        

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2

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## 

DAKOTA GROWERS PASTA COMPANY       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS       (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

|                                                                                                   |                           | Three Months Ended
October 31, |       
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------- | ------------------------------ | ------
|
|Net revenues (net of discounts and allowances of $4,864 and $5,514, respectively)                  |                           | $                              | 33,283
|Cost of product sold                                                                               |                           |                                | 30,803
|                                                                                                   |                           |                                |       
|Gross proceeds                                                                                     |                           |                                | 2,480 
|Marketing, general and administrative expenses                                                     |                           |                                | 2,747 
|                                                                                                   |                           |                                |       
|Operating proceeds (loss)                                                                          |                           |                                | (267  
|Other income (expense)                                                                             |                           |                                |       
|                                                                                                   | Interest and other income |                                |       
|                                                                                                   | Interest expense, net     |                                |       
|                                                                                                   |                           |                                |       
|Income (loss) before income taxes                                                                  |                           |                                | (1,181
|Income tax benefit                                                                                 |                           |                                | 79    
|                                                                                                   |                           |                                |       
|Net income (loss) from patronage and non-patronage business                                        |                           |                                | (1,102
|Dividends on preferred stock                                                                       |                           |                                | 12    
|                                                                                                   |                           |                                |       
|Net earnings (loss) from patronage and non-patronage business available for members                |                           | $                              | (1,114
|                                                                                                   |                           |                                |       
|Average equity shares outstanding                                                                  |                           |                                | 11,253
|Net earnings (loss) from patronage and non-patronage business per average equity share outstanding |                           |                                |       
|                                                                                                   | Basic                     |                                | $     
|                                                                                                   |                           |                                |       

See
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

3

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## 

DAKOTA GROWERS PASTA COMPANY       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS       (In Thousands) (Unaudited)

|                                                                       |                                             | Three Months Ended
October 31,          |       
|---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | ------
|
|OPERATING ACTIVITIES                                                   |                                             |                                         |       
|                                                                       | Net income (loss)                           |                                         | $     
|                                                                       | Add (deduct) non-cash items                 |                                         |       
|                                                                       |                                             | Depreciation and amortization           |       
|                                                                       |                                             | Non-cash portion of patronage dividends |       
|                                                                       |                                             | Deferred income taxes                   |       
|                                                                       | Changes in assets and liabilities           |                                         |       
|                                                                       |                                             | Trade receivables                       |       
|                                                                       |                                             | Other receivables                       |       
|                                                                       |                                             | Inventories                             |       
|                                                                       |                                             | Prepaid expenses                        |       
|                                                                       |                                             | Other assets                            |       
|                                                                       |                                             | Accounts payable                        |       
|                                                                       |                                             | Grower payables                         |       
|                                                                       |                                             | Other accrued liabilities               |       
|                                                                       |                                             |                                         |       
|NET CASH FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES                                     |                                             |                                         | 5,124 
|                                                                       |                                             |                                         |       
|INVESTING ACTIVITIES                                                   |                                             |                                         |       
|                                                                       | Purchases of property and equipment         |                                         |       
|                                                                       | Receipts on note receivable                 |                                         |       
|                                                                       | Payments for package design costs           |                                         |       
|                                                                       |                                             |                                         |       
|NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES                                  |                                             |                                         | (758  
|                                                                       |                                             |                                         |       
|FINANCING ACTIVITIES                                                   |                                             |                                         |       
|                                                                       | Net change in short-term debt               |                                         |       
|                                                                       | Payments on long-term debt                  |                                         |       
|                                                                       | Preferred stock retirements                 |                                         |       
|                                                                       | Dividends paid on preferred stock           |                                         |       
|                                                                       | Memberships issued, net                     |                                         |       
|                                                                       |                                             |                                         |       
|NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES                                  |                                             |                                         | (3,142
|                                                                       |                                             |                                         |       
|NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                                |                                             |                                         | 1,224 
|CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD                         |                                             |                                         | 1,725 
|                                                                       |                                             |                                         |       
|CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD                               |                                             | $                                       | 2,949 
|                                                                       |                                             |                                         |       
|SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION                      |                                             |                                         |       
|                                                                       | Cash payments for                           |                                         |       
|                                                                       |                                             | Interest                                |       
|                                                                       |                                             |                                         |       
|                                                                       |                                             | Income taxes                            |       
|                                                                       |                                             |                                         |       
|SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES |                                             |                                         |       
|                                                                       | Declaration of patronage distribution       |                                         | $     
|                                                                       | Declaration of dividends on equity stock    |                                         |       
|                                                                       | Declaration of dividends on preferred stock |                                         |       
|                                                                       |                                             |                                         |       
|                                                                       |                                             | $                                       | 4,477 
|                                                                       |                                             |                                         |       

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

4

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DAKOTA GROWERS PASTA COMPANY       NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS       (Unaudited)

The following notes should be read in conjunction with the notes to the financial statements for the year ended July 31, 2000 as filed in the Company's
Form 10-K.

NOTE 1ORGANIZATION

Dakota Growers Pasta Company ("Dakota Growers", "the Company" or "the Cooperative") is organized as a farmers' cooperative for purposes of manufacturing food
for human consumption from durum and other grain products. Net proceeds are allocated to patrons who are members on the basis of their participation in the Cooperative.

The
ownership of membership stock, which signifies membership in the Cooperative, is restricted to producers of agricultural products. The ownership of equity stock is restricted to
members of the Cooperative. Preferred stock may be held by persons who are not members of the Cooperative.

NOTE 2BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein as of October 31, 2000 and for the three months ended October 31, 2000 and 1999,
have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted
accounting principles. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for
the three months ended October 31, 2000 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended July 31, 2001. The information included in this
Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with Management's Discussion and Analysis and the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company's
Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2000. The information contained in the balance sheet as of July 31, 2000 was derived from the Company's audited annual report for
fiscal 2000. Reclassifications have been made to facilitate comparability with current presentation. Such reclassifications have no effect on the net results of operations.

The
financial information presented herein includes the consolidated balances and results of operations of Dakota Growers Pasta Company and its wholly owned subsidiary. All
significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

NOTE 3INVENTORIES

Inventories are valued at lower of cost or market. Inventories as of October 31, 2000 include raw materials of $4,053,000 and finished goods of
$16,683,000. Inventories at July 31, 2000 include raw materials of $5,329,000 and finished goods of $16,452,000.

NOTE 4LOAN AGREEMENT

The Company was not in compliance with the consolidated funded debt to consolidated cash flow ratio set forth in the original note agreement with institutional
investors. The Company obtained a waiver as of October 31, 2000 for this event along with an amendment to the original note agreement. The amendment requires that the ratio of consolidated
funded debt to consolidated cash flow not exceed 3.50 to 1 for the period from August 1, 2000 to October 31, 2000, 3.40 to 1 for the period from November 1, 2000 to
January 31, 2001, and 3.00 to 1 at all times thereafter, in each case determined as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the immediately preceding four fiscal quarters, treating such period of
four fiscal quarters as a single accounting period.

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NOTE 5INCOME TAXES

The Company is a non-exempt cooperative as defined by Section 1381(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code ("Code"). Accordingly, net margins
from business transacted with its member patrons which are allocated, qualified, and paid as prescribed in Section 1382 of the Code will be taxable to the members and not to the Company. Net
margins and member allocations are determined on the basis of accounting used for financial reporting purposes. 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 tax rates. Cooperative organizations have 81/2 months after their fiscal
year end to make such allocations in the form of written notices of allocation or cash.

The
Company has recorded an income tax benefit of $79,000 for the three months ending October 31, 2000 resulting from reductions in deferred tax liabilities associated with
differences between the book and tax basis of property and equipment.

NOTE 6PATRONAGE BUSINESS

The Company's business is conducted on a cooperative basis. The Company calculates income from patronage sources based on income derived from bushels of durum
delivered by members. Non-patronage income is derived from the resale of spring wheat flour purchased from non-members and blended with other flours, the resale of pasta
purchased from non-members, the resale of semolina
purchased from non-members, certain amounts of interest income, rental income from Company assets and any income taxes assessed on non-member business. For the three months
ended October 31, 2000, the net loss allocable to patronage business totaled $913,000. This compares to $3,153,000 of net earnings allocable to patronage business for the three months ended
October 31, 1999.

NOTE 7EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

The Company allocates its earnings (loss) and patronage distributions based on patronage business (bushels of durum delivered, which approximates one bushel of
durum per equity share). For presentation purposes, it has calculated basic net earnings (loss) per share by dividing earnings (loss) from patronage and non-patronage business available
for members (net income (loss) less preferred dividends) by the weighted average number of equity shares effective and outstanding during the period.

The
Company had convertible preferred stock and stock options for convertible preferred stock outstanding during the periods presented. Fully diluted earnings (loss) per share are
calculated for the assumed conversion of these dilutive securities. As the Company's stock is only traded in a small secondary market through private transactions, the Company has assumed the proceeds
from the exercise of stock options would reduce debt and, thus, interest expense. Fully diluted earnings (loss) per share are not presented, as the dilutive effect of outstanding convertible preferred
stock and stock options is not material for the periods presented.

NOTE 8DIVIDENDS

The Board of Directors authorized a qualified patronage allocation of $4,466,000 ($.4284 per bushel acquired or $.40 per average outstanding equity share) for
fiscal year 2000 at its November 2000 meeting. The total qualified patronage allocation was paid in cash on November 30, 2000. The Board also voted to allocate, on a
non-qualified basis, the remainder of the fiscal 2000 patronage earnings totaling $2,665,000.

6

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In taking these actions, the Board of Director rescinded the patronage allocations authorized at the October 2000 meeting as reported in the Company's Form 10-K for the year
ended July 31, 2000.

NOTE 9COMMITMENTS

The Company forward contracts for a certain portion of its future durum wheat requirements. The Company had outstanding commitments for grain purchases
totaling $1,632,000 at October 31, 2000.

The
Company has pledged $500,000 to The Culinary Institute of America. Dakota Growers is the benefactor of the Marketplace/Lounge in the Colavita Center for Italian Food and Wine. The
pledge is to be paid in quarterly installments of $25,000 beginning in October 2000 and continuing over the next five years.

7

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ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward-Looking Statements

The following discussion contains forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on assumptions by the Company's management, as of the date of this
Quarterly Report, and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in the Company's 2000 Form 10-K under "Risk Factors", that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those anticipated. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements in the
Quarterly Report to reflect future events or developments.

Summary

Dakota Growers incurred a net loss of $1.1 million for the quarter ended October 31, 2000, down considerably from net earnings of
$3.0 million for the corresponding period of the prior year. The net loss resulted from lower sales volumes and competitive pricing within the dry pasta industry combined with increasing raw
material, freight, and utility costs. The Company is projecting a net loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2001 as well.

The
Cooperative is attempting to increase prices to cover higher input costs while continuing to explore cost reduction opportunities. With excess capacity available in the pasta
industry, the Company has encountered some resistance to the increases, and has been unable to implement price increases to fully cover higher costs on a timely basis. There have also been instances
whereby a major competitor has offered pricing below the Cooperative's current cost of production.

The
Company is unable to predict with certainty the impacts of durum prices and market conditions for the latter portions of fiscal 2001; however, the Company does anticipate the
impact of price increases it
is able to achieve, along with volume roll outs to new customers and implementation of cost reduction projects, to return the Cooperative to profitability during the third quarter of fiscal 2001.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Three Months Ended October 31, 2000 and 1999

Net Revenues.Total net revenues decreased $2.3 million, or 6.4%, to
$33.3 million for the quarter ended October 31, 2000. The decrease was due to lower average sales prices as well as lower sales volumes. Average sales price per pound of pasta declined
by 4.3% due to highly competitive pricing within the pasta industry. Pasta sales volumes declined by 2.3%.

Revenues
from the retail segment decreased by 2.5% while retail volumes increased 7.0%. Foodservice revenues decreased by 10.3%, reflecting lower pricing, while a 6.9% increase in
sales volumes resulted from expansions and acquisitions made by several of the Company's current customers. Ingredient revenues decreased by 14.9% as sales volumes declined 12.0%.

The
Company markets semolina production in excess of its own requirements as well as by-products of durum milling. Revenues from semolina sales dropped by 45.8% due
primarily to a volume decline. Revenues from by-product sales were relatively stable with a slight increase in flour volume.

Cost of Product Sold.Cost of product sold increased 7.0% to $30.8 million. The
$2.0 million increase resulted mainly from increases in raw material costs, packaging costs and, to a lesser degree, freight and utility costs. Gross margin as a percentage of net revenues
decreased from 19.1% to 7.5% as a result of these factors combined with lower average sales prices.

8

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Marketing, General, and Administrative ("MG&A") Expenses.MG&A expenses remained essentially
unchanged, increasing by 0.7%. MG&A expenses as a percentage of net revenues increased slightly from 7.7% to 8.3%.

Interest Expense.Interest expense decreased $146,000 as a result of a decrease in average
outstanding debt.

Income Taxes.The Company has recorded an income tax benefit of $79,000 for the quarter ended
October 31, 2000 relating to the reduction in deferred tax liabilities associated with differences between the book and tax basis of property and equipment.

Net Income.Net income decreased by $4.2 million mainly due to the decreases in sales
volumes and prices combined with increases in input costs noted above.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company's liquidity requirements include the operation of manufacturing facilities and equipment and the expansion of working capital to meet its growth
requirements, as well as providing a fair return to its members. The Company meets these liquidity requirements from cash provided by operations, short-term borrowings under its line of
credit, sales of equities and outside debt financing.

The
Company utilizes financing on a short-term basis to fund operations and capital projects until permanent financing is issued. The Company has a seasonal line of credit
for $15.0 million with CoBank, ACB ("the Bank"). There was no balance outstanding on the line of credit as of October 31, 2000. Cash, receivables and inventories secure borrowings
against the line of credit.

The
Company's long-term financing is provided through various secured term loans and secured notes. Variable interest rates on term and seasonal loans are based on the
lender's cost of funds, and are subject to an adjustment (increase or decrease) depending on the Company's financial condition.

The
various debt agreements with the Bank and institutional investors obligate the Company to maintain or achieve certain amounts of equity and certain financial ratios and impose
certain restrictions on the Company. The Company was not in compliance with the consolidated funded debt to consolidated cash flow ratio set forth in the original note agreement with institutional
investors. The Company obtained a waiver as of October 31, 2000 for this event along with an amendment to the original note agreement. The amendment requires that the ratio of consolidated
funded debt to consolidated cash flow not exceed 3.50 to 1 for the period from August 1, 2000 to October 31, 2000, 3.40 to 1 for the period from November 1, 2000 to
January 31, 2001, and 3.00 to 1 at all times thereafter, in each case determined as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the immediately preceding four fiscal quarters, treating such period of
four fiscal quarters as a single accounting period. The Company is uncertain at this time if it will be in compliance with the amended ratio as of January 31, 2001 or April 30, 2001.

Operations
generated $5.1 million of net cash flow for the three months ended October 31, 2000 compared to $5.5 million for the three months ended
October 31, 1999. The decrease in net cash provided by operations is primarily due to a decrease in net income offset by decreases in trade receivables and inventories and an increase in
accounts payable for the corresponding periods.

Net
cash used in investing activities relates primarily to the construction and installation of milling and pasta equipment. Net cash used in financing activities totaled
$0.8 million and $0.7 million for the three months ended October 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. A majority of the Company's technology assets are placed under lease agreements,
which allows the Company to stay relatively current with changing technologies.

Net
cash used in financing activities totaled $3.1 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended October 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. Substantially all
of these amounts related to debt payments. The

9

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Board of Directors authorized a qualified patronage allocation of $4,466,000 ($.4284 per bushel acquired or $.40 per average outstanding equity share) for fiscal year 2000 at its November 2000
meeting. The total qualified patronage allocation was paid in cash on November 30, 2000. The Board also voted to allocate, on a non-qualified basis, the remainder of the fiscal 2000
patronage earnings totaling $2,665,000. In taking these actions, the Board of Director rescinded the patronage allocations authorized at the October 2000 meeting as reported in the Company's
Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2000.

The
Company has current commitments for $1.6 million in raw material purchases, primarily durum purchase commitments from its members. The Company anticipates capital
expenditures to total $3.5 million in fiscal year 2001. These expenditures are primarily for pasta line upgrades and cost reduction projects. Commitments for monthly operating lease payments
for technology and other assets total $1.3 million, of which $0.7 million is due within one year. The Company has pledged $500,000 to The Culinary Institute of America. Dakota Growers is
the benefactor of the Marketplace/Lounge in the Colavita Center for Italian Food and Wine. The pledge is to be paid in quarterly installments of $25,000 beginning in October 2000 and continuing
over the next five years.

Management
believes that net cash currently available and to be provided by operating activities, along with its available line of credit, will be sufficient to meet the Company's
expected capital and liquidity requirements for the foreseeable future.

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market risk is the risk of loss to future earnings, to fair values or to future cash flows that may result from changes in the price of a financial instrument.
The value of a financial instrument may change as a result of changes in interest rates, commodity prices, exchange rates, equity prices, and other market changes. Market risk is attributed to all
market-risk sensitive financial instruments, including long-term debt.

The
Company does not believe it is subject to any material market risk exposure with respect to interest rates, commodity prices, exchange rates, equity prices, or other market
changes that would require disclosure under this item.

10

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## 

PART IIOTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

Exhibits

|4.1 |  | Waiver and First Amendment to Note Purchase Agreements dated November 28, 2000.                                                         
|--- |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|27  |  | Financial Data Schedule, which is submitted electronically to the Securities and Exchange Commission for information only and not filed.

Reports on Form 8-K

None.

11

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## 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

| |  | DAKOTA GROWERS PASTA COMPANY
| |  | ----------------------------
| |  | By:                         
| |  | Dated: December 15, 2000    

Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and
on the dates indicated.

|Signature                             |  | Title                                                 |  | Date             
|------------------------------------- |  | ----------------------------------------------------- |  | -----------------
|                                      |  |                                                       |  |                  
|/s/TIMOTHY J. DODDTimothy J. Dodd     |  | General Manager
(Principal Executive Officer)         |  | December 15, 2000
|/s/THOMAS P. FRIEZENThomas P. Friezen |  | Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer) |  | December 15, 2000
|/s/EDWARD O. IRIONEdward O. Irion     |  | Vice PresidentFinance
(Principal Accounting Officer) |  | December 15, 2000
|                                      |  |                                                       |  |                  

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