HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Agriculture Development Council has offered funding totaling $164,290 to eight Growth Through Agriculture projects for agricultural development, according to council Chair David Tyler.

The development 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:

• Cream of the West, Harlowton, $49,500 grant to assist with marketing and development costs to expand and increase sales territory with brand recognition of the business’s new product line.
• Montana Monster Munchies, LLC, Bozeman, $25,000 grant to assist with distribution and commercialization costs of the business’s production line.
• Rycom Transload Services, LLC, Sunburst, $25,000 grant to assist with equipment costs of the business’s grain trans-loading and storage facility.
• Montana Gluten Free Processors, Belgrade, $25,000 grant to assist with increased storage needs for grower production of PrOatina and Timtana grain products at its Belgrade facility.
• BiOmega3, LLC, Bozeman, $17,000 grant to assist with updating the business’s existing processing facility for camelina oil production.
• Roger Olson, Kalispell, $8,500 grant to assist with costs of planting and evaluating a hardy grape variety that can be grown in Montana.
• Wee Chef Baby Organics, Columbia Falls, $12,210 grant to assist with facility upgrades and implementation of spot freezers for merchandizing the business’s frozen organic baby food product.
• Montana Hog Marketing Association, Malta, $2,080 grant to assist with costs to research methods for disposal of plant waste and to determine revenue sources for waste by-products.

The Montana Agriculture Development Council heard presentations on 20 proposed projects at a scheduled business meeting held February 9 and 10 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 March 4, 2011. For more information and application materials, contact Collin Watters, Growth Through Agriculture program manager, at the Montana Department of Agriculture, at (406) 444-2402 or by e-mail at gta@mt.gov