Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

105 Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce www.greatfallschamber.org A G R I C U LT U R E Agriculture is the heartbeat of Montana, and the Great Falls area, pushing daily commerce through all other local industries and businesses. Our communities, whether they only are made up of a post office and bar or a more urban center like Great Falls, thrive based on how the ranchers and farmers are getting by that year. To appreciate the impact of local ag, take notice as you drive though Cascade County and count the pick-ups, grain trucks, farm equipment, and hay bales that give only a glimpse of the bustle of ag in this area. A high percentage of boots can always be found walking the grocery aisles stocking up for the next few weeks or taking in a movie or other leisure activity in town. It's a symbiotic relationship between business staples and restaurants, (if you want to list some businesses like North 40, Mountain View Co-op, CHS, Pasta Montana, Agri Basics, 2 J's Grocery, and Western Ranch Supply, LOCAL FOOD/business PLACES that are chamber members? Or you can omit…) along with many other key businesses and the ranchers and farmers who rely on them to keep operating. Equipment dealers, repair shops, and other ag-support operations consistently keep machinery row pushing tractors and combines out in the fields. They support our community and keep almost any event held at the Montana Expo Park packed and prosperous. Again, the evidence of family farm agriculture and the businesses that support it in Cascade County are an easy tell-tale sign of who is the lifeblood in our community. When family farmers and ranchers are thriving, the next generation can return home to the ranch and take it over, start a family here, and do business in our communities. These next generation of producers bring vitality, economic opportunity, grow our schools – all which means more dollars being spent at area businesses, and provide support services to family farmers and ranchers. While wheat is still king, many crops are grown in the Great Falls area, and local businesses have adapted to the diversified landscape. Wheat, malting barley, oilseeds, hay, and pulse crops dominate the Golden Triangle north of Great Falls. You can check out more information from the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee and the Montana Pulse Crop Committee for resources on their respective crops. Without the steady ag industry and processing available in Great Falls, farmers and ranchers would struggle to find markets for their products. Great Falls is well known as a hub of agricultural processing and industry that is ever evolving. A notable example of this evolution to meet the demands of the industry is Calumet Montana Refining. Calumet now has half their refining capacity in renewable diesel production through Montana Renewables. This expansion and transition have not only provided more market opportunity for farmers but have supported job and economic growth for the greater Great Falls area. Agriculture Forecast

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