EXHIBIT 10.36

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made effective as of May 1, 1999 by and between Michael
Bergeland (hereinafter "Bergeland") and Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives, a
Minnesota cooperative corporation (together with all affiliates, the "Company").

1.   The Employment Clause

     The Company hereby agrees to and does hereby employ Bergeland as Executive
     Vice President and Bergeland hereby agrees to continue in the employ of the
     Company as Executive Vice President for the period set forth in Paragraph 2
     below (the period of employment) upon the other terms and conditions set
     forth in this Agreement. It is also agreed for the period of this
     agreement, Bergeland shall be afforded the same professional privileges
     generally afforded Executive Vice Presidents of the Company which include
     but are not limited to attendance at meetings, business trips, and
     continuation of membership on boards such as the Grain Exchange, United
     Harvest and the Company Retirement Plans.

     Bergeland shall also be afforded the same consideration for retention
     and/or success incentives as other Executive Vice President's of the
     Company should such incentives become operative through any merger,
     acquisition, or change in control.

2.   Period of Employment; Termination of Agreement

     The period of employment shall commence on the date of this Agreement and,
     subject only to the provisions of Paragraphs 6(b) and 6(c) below, relating,
     respectively, to death and disability, shall continue through August 31,
     2001, provided that Bergeland's employment may be terminated by either
     party on at least thirty (30) days written notice, subject to the rights
     and obligations of the parties set forth herein.

3.   The Performance Clause

     Throughout the period of employment, Bergeland agrees to devote his full
     time and attention during normal business hours to the business of the
     Company, except for earned vacation and except for illness or incapacity.

4.   The Compensation Clause

     a.   For all services to be rendered by Bergeland in any capacity during
          the period of employment, Bergeland shall be paid as annual
          compensation a base or fixed salary of $300,000. The President &
          General Manager will annually review Bergeland's annual compensation
          and determine what is appropriate for a cost of living, merit
          increase, and/or increase in responsibilities or duties.

     b.   Bergeland shall be entitled to receive incentive compensation based on
          the Executive Compensation Plan of the Company. It is agreed Bergeland
          shall receive the maximum payout as provided in the terms of the
          annual variable pay plan of the Company for the years 1999, 2000 and
          2001.
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     c.   During the term of his employment hereunder, Bergeland shall be
          entitled to retain the automobile Bergeland presently uses and shall
          be covered by all provisions of the automobile policy in effect at the
          time of this Agreement.

     d.   During the term of Bergeland's employment herunder, Bergeland shall be
          entitled to those employee benefits separately made available to him
          from time to time by the Company in its discretion, including
          financial planning, club memberships, executive physicals and
          executive disability programs.

     e.   The Company shall bear such ordinary and necessary business expenses
          incurred by Bergeland in performing his duties herunder as the Company
          determines from time to time, provided that Bergeland accounts
          promptly for such expenses to the Company in the manner prescribed
          from time to time by the Company.

5.   Termination with Severance Allowance

     a)   Terms of Severance Allowance and Amount. At the expiration of this
          Agreement, Bergeland shall be provided a severance allowance made up
          of the following components:

          i)   Bergeland shall receive a lump sum payment for the Company's
               long-term variable pay plan equal to his target payout from that
               plan.

          ii)  Bergeland and the Company are party to the "1997 Supplemental
               Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) Agreement" executed by Bergeland
               on May 30, 1997 and the Company on May 27, 1997. The schedule of
               SERP balance outlined in that agreement shall be accelerated by 5
               years and 4 months so that Bergeland is eligible for the maximum
               amount provided for pursuant that schedule and shall be eligible
               to receive that amount effective September 1, 2001.

          iii) Medical, dental, vision and hearing insurance shall be provided
               to Bergeland on the same basis as other eligible retirees of the
               Company.

          iv)  Ownership in the equity portion of Bergeland's membership at
               Midland Hills Golf Club shall be maintained by Bergeland.


     b)   Terms and Conditions for Early Severance Allowance and Amount. In the
          event of termination of the employment of Bergeland by the Company
          during the period of employment for any reason other than for cause,
          as defined in (b) below, death or disability, the Company shall pay
          Bergeland a severance allowance by continuing Bergeland's base or
          fixed salary through August 31, 2001. In addition, Bergeland shall
          receive a pro rata benefit from variable pay plans of the employer in
          effect at the time this Agreement is effective. Bergeland shall also
          receive benefits described in 5(a)(ii-iv) above. Said severance
          allowance shall be in lieu of all other severance payable to Bergeland
          under Company severance policies. Said severance shall be paid in
          semi-monthly installments, subject to normal withholding taxes.

     c)   Definition of "For Cause". For the purpose of this Agreement,
          termination of Bergeland's employment shall be deemed to have been for
          cause (and in which case the Company shall have no obligation to
          Bergeland whatsoever) only:


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          i)   If termination of Bergeland's employment shall have been the
               result of an act or acts of fraud, theft or embezzlement on the
               part of Bergeland which, if convicted, would constitute a felony
               and which results or which is intended to result directly or
               indirectly in gain or personal enrichment of Bergeland at the
               expense of the Company; or

          ii)  If termination of Bergeland's employment results from Bergeland's
               willful and material misconduct, including willful and material
               failure to perform his duties, and Bergeland has been given
               written notice by the Company with respect to such and Bergeland
               does not cure within a reasonable time; or

          iii) If there has been a breach by Bergeland during the period of
               employment of the provisions of Paragraph 3 above, relating to
               the time to be devoted to the affairs of the Company, and with
               respect to any alleged breach of Paragraph 3 hereof, Bergeland
               shall have substantially failed to remedy such alleged breach
               within thirty days from Bergeland's receipt of notice from the
               Company.

     d)   Request and Release. In order to obtain the severance allowance
          provided for in this Agreement, Bergeland must submit a request for
          severance and must sign a complete release of all claims. The Company
          shall have no obligation to pay any severance allowance unless and
          until Bergeland shall have submitted the request for severance and
          signed a full and complete release of all claims, to be drafted by
          Legal Counsel for the Company.

6.   Termination without Severance Allowance

     a.   Voluntary Termination by Bergeland. In the event of voluntary
          termination by Bergeland, the Company shall not owe Bergeland any
          severance allowance and Bergeland shall not, for a period of three (3)
          years from the date of termination, directly or indirectly participate
          anywhere in the continental United Sates in any activities which are
          in competition or conflict with the activities of the Company or any
          Company subsidiary of affiliate, including, but not limited to,
          managing, consulting, operating, controlling, owning or having an
          ownership interest in, being employed by, or being connected with the
          management, operation or control of, any business which is of the same
          or similar type of business in which the Company or any Company
          subsidiary or affiliate presently engage, or hereafter engage during
          the term of this Agreement, or which competes with, or reasonably
          could be expected to compete with, the Company or any Company
          subsidiary or affiliate. Notwithstanding any provision herein,
          Bergeland shall be entitled to receive, to the date of termination,
          base or fixed compensation plus a prorated amount of Executive
          Compensation.

     b.   Death. In the event of Bergeland's death during the period of
          employment, the legal representative of Bergeland shall be entitled to
          the base or fixed salary provided for in Paragraph (4)a above for the
          month in which death shall have occurred, at the rate being paid at
          the time of death, and the period of employment shall be deemed to
          have ended as of the close of business on the last day of the month in
          which death shall have occurred but without prejudice to any benefits,
          such as life insurance, otherwise due in respect to Bergeland's death.


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     c.   Disability

          i)   In the event of Bergeland's disability during the period of
               employment, Bergeland shall be entitled to an amount equal to the
               base or fixed salary provided for in Paragraph 4(a) above, at the
               rate being paid at the time of the commencement of disability,
               for the period of such disability but not in excess of twelve
               (12) months from the beginning of the period that establishes
               such disability, as described in Paragraph 6(c)(iii) below.

          ii)  The amount of any payments under Paragraph 6 (c)(i) shall be
               reduced by any payments to which Bergeland may be entitled for
               the same period because of disability under any disability or
               pension plan of Cenex Harvest States or of any division,
               subsidiary, or affiliate thereof, or as the result of worker's
               compensation or nonoccupational disability payments received from
               any government entity.

          iii) The term "Disability" as used in this Agreement, shall mean an
               illness or accident occurring during the period of employment
               which prevents Bergeland from performing the essential functions
               of his job under the Agreement, with reasonable accommodations
               (as defined by federal and Minnesota disability laws), for a
               period of six consecutive months. The period of employment shall
               be deemed to have ended as of the close of business on the last
               day of such six-month period but without prejudice to any
               payments due Bergeland from any disability policy or disability
               insurance.

7.   Successor in Interest

     This Agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder shall be binding
     upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
     legal representatives, and shall also bind and inure to the benefit of any
     successor of the Company by merger or consolidation or any purchaser or
     assignee of all or substantially all of its assets, but, except to any such
     successor, purchaser, or assignee of the Company, neither this Agreement
     nor any rights or benefits hereunder may be assigned by either party
     hereto.

8.   Construction

     Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in
     such a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any
     provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under
     applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of
     such prohibition or invalidity without invalidating the remainder of such
     provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

9.   Governing Laws

     This Agreement shall be governed by an construed and enforced in accordance
     with the laws of the State of Minnesota.


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10.  Notices

     Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be
     sufficient if in writing, sent by Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested:

     If to Bergeland:                       Michael Bergeland
                                            853 Amble Road
                                            Shoreview, MN 55126

     If to the Company:                     John D. Johnson
                                            Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives
                                            P. O. Box 64089
                                            St. Paul, MN 55164-0089

     With a copy to:                        Richard L. Baldwin, Human Resources
                                            Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives
                                            P. O. Box 64089
                                            St. Paul, MN 55164-0089

11.  Entire Agreement

     This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties,
     superseding all prior agreements, and may not be modified or amended and no
     waiver shall be effective unless by written document signed by the
     President and General Manager and Bergeland.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective as of the
date set forth above.


                                    CENEX HARVEST STATES COOPERATIVES




    _________________________       By: _______________________________
    Michael Bergeland                       John D. Johnson
                                            President & General Manager