An Audrain County woman pleads not guilty today to a dozen state charges stemming from a $27 million grain fraud.

Cathy Gieseker entered the plea in circuit court in Warrenton.

Gieseker was arrested in July, accused of bilking more than 180 farmers while she ran a Martinsburg company that sold and hauled grain.

Prosecutors have called it the largest grain fraud scheme in Missouri history.

They say Gieseker promised farmers returns 50 percent to 100 percent above market through nonexistent contracts with Archer Daniels Midland Company.

The indictment alleges she instead sold grain at spot prices and used proceeds from other grain sales to pay inflated prices to some farmers.

Gieseker also faces three federal charges.

Her federal trial begins Dec. 7 in St. Louis.