Council Selects Montana Growth Through Agriculture Projects – Next Application Deadline is August 1, 2011

The Montana Agriculture Development Council has offered funding totaling $425,498 to 11 Growth Through Agriculture projects for agricultural development, according to council Chair David Tyler.

The council oversees the Growth Through Agriculture program, which uses coal severance dollars to provide financial assistance to develop new products or innovative ideas that enhance our state’s agricultural industry.

In the latest round, the council offered funding to:

— Montana Hog Marketing Association, Malta, $50,000 grant to research methods of plant waste disposal and possible revenue sources for waste by-products as well as development of a strategic plan to supply beef to a proposed hog and beef processing facility in Montana.

— Wayfare, Inc., Bozeman, $50,000 grant for equipment needed to expand the company’s production of gluten-free oat and millet-based non-dairy products.

— Great Falls Development Authority, Great Falls, $50,000 grant to assist with engineering work for the Great Falls Agri-Tech Park in order to develop shovel-ready sites for agri-processing companies.

— Montana Specialty Mills, LLC, Great Falls, $49,450 grant to assist with engineering costs associated with the construction of a new oilseed processing plant outside Great Falls.

— Montana Wagyu Cattle Co., LLC, Belgrade, $35,000 grant for the purchase of equipment associated with the company’s retail expansion.

— Ten Spoon Vineyard and Winery, Missoula, $27,938 grant to assist with expansion of the company’s vineyard.

— Wustner Brothers Honey, Missoula, $10,000 grant for equipment necessary to expand the company’s honey business.

— Lake County Community Development Corporation, Ronan, $10,650 grant for facility upgrades to its processing facility.

— XL Feeds, LLC, Kalispell, $60,000 loan for purchase of equipment to expand the company’s hay pelleting business.

— Safflower Technologies International, LLC, Sidney, $71,000 loan for equipment that will increase the plant’s ability to store, handle and process peas, lentils, dry edible beans, chickpeas and soybeans.

The Montana Agriculture Development Council heard presentations on 13 proposed projects at a business meeting held April 6 in Helena. Council members are: David Tyler of Belgrade, chair; Ervin Schlemmer of Joliet, vice-chair; Patricia Quisno of Harlem; Verges Aageson of Gildford; Bill Koenig of Kalispell; Ron de Yong, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture; Dore Schwinden, director of the Montana Department of Commerce.

The next deadline for project applications to the Growth Through Agriculture program is August 1, 2011.

For more information and application materials, contact Angie Nelson, Growth Through Agriculture program manager at the Montana Department of Agriculture at (406) 444-2402 or by e-mail at [email protected].