Ground broken at Great Falls malting plant

Corporate and state officials broke ground Wednesday on a $60 million malting plant that’s scheduled to open within two years.

By The Associated Press Helena IR

The International Malting Co. plant is expected to hire about 35 employees and process between 12 million and 16 million bushels of malt barley a year.

‘‘We believe we’ll benefit every farmer in the state that wants to grow barley,” said IMC’s Philip Van Rensburg.

Ralph Peck, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture, said plant officials anticipate needing about half of Montana’s malt barley production.

Peck said the plant may also bring spinoff businesses that make products, such as animal feed, from malting byproducts.

‘‘We’re so excited for the prospects to growers in this area,” Gov. Judy Martz said. She said Montana’s malt barley industry is a $60 million annual business with the potential to double.

Leveling and excavation of the plant site has started and officials are hoping to have foundations poured before the fall’s first snowfall. The company already has plants in Milwaukee; Chicago; Winona, Minn.; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

IMC, a subsidiary of Lesaffre International of France, provides malt to some of the world’s largest brewing companies, including Anheuser-Busch, Miller Brewing and Mexico’s Grupo Modelo.

The company is also the world’s largest producer of yeast and bread-making ingredients and operates 42 plants in 26 countries.

http://helenair.com/articles/2003/07/03/montana/a08070303_01.txt