GRAND FORKS - The North Dakota attorney general's office has weighed in on behalf of the North Dakota Wheat Commission's request for financial information from two grain grower groups.

Paul Germolus, an assistant attorney general who works with the commission, sent a letter Tuesday asking for audit information from the North Dakota Grain Growers and the U.S. Durum Growers.

The request was prompted by the recent departure of Lance Hagen as executive director for both associations. A letter released from an accounting firm Tuesday indicated the groups had completed more than two years of audits and found that accounts "reconciled," but it provided no details.

The Grain Growers and Durum Growers associations do contract work for the Wheat Commission, which collects wheat checkoff funds from growers.

Larry Lee, the chairman of the Wheat Commission, requested information May 7 about staffing and finances that deal with those contracts.

About $200,000 per year goes to the groups for their contract work and for Grain Growers' dues to the National Association of Wheat Growers.

The growers groups' attorney, Al Wolf, told the Wheat Commission that "all receipts and expenditures of the funds by the associations have been accounted for and the costs associated with these proceedings have been fully reinstated to the various accounts." He did not say why funds had to be reinstated, or from what source.

Wolf earlier told Lee in a letter that the growers associations contacted him March 29 to represent them "regarding Hagen's employment relationship." Wolf urged the two groups to conduct an audit of their funds "in preparation for a possible separation of that employment relationship."

Hagen said he left the job late last month for other career opportunities. Other industry officials believe he was fired. Grain Growers Association President Greg Daws has declined to discuss the reason for Hagen's departure.