In a time of falling grain prices, the grass seemed greener for organic farmers
like Jon Kvaalen who for the past couple of years sold his wheat for more than
double the price his neighbors were getting.
But a tough economy is catching up with one of Montanas fastest-growing niche
industries. Flour mills that once had an insatiable demand for organic grain are
now full, which is driving down payments to farmers like Kvaalen, of Lambert.
We work real closely with one flour mill. I just talked to the buyer the other
day and he said hard red spring wheat is moving slowly, said Kvaalen, who grows
a half-dozen organic commodities. At one point he told me the price down there
was $10 a bushel, which would be $8 on the farm after deducting shipping costs,
he said.
Photo Caption: Patrick Landry mixes up a batch of organic pizza dough at Z Pizza
recently. Z Pizza uses organic Montana wheat for it’s dough.
Photo Credit: Larry Mayer
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