Constellation Brands Pledges $100 Million to Support Montana’s Northern Plains Barley Farmers

Constellation Brands will invest $100 million over five years to support northern plains barley farmers.

The beverage giant’s commitment targets growers in Montana, Idaho, and North Dakota amid declining demand and shrinking barley acreage. This represents a structural effort to stabilize a key ingredient supply chain under pressure.

The investment aims to counter challenges like rising input costs and reduced planting, with Montana barley acreage falling from over two million to around eight hundred thousand acres. Lee Dahlman, a Montana barley farmer and Wheat and Barley board member, highlights the hope this brings: “Number one – it gives hope, and that’s what we all want.” The funds will be distributed over five years, though specifics remain undisclosed.

Details on allocation and impact remain forthcoming as the program unfolds.

For Montana farmers, this investment could provide crucial relief and incentives to expand barley production despite ongoing cost pressures and weather uncertainties. Given the state’s legacy in barley farming, such support may help sustain rural economies and preserve agricultural traditions tied to the northern plains’ climate and landscape.

Fortune 500 company invests $100 million to support Montana barley farmers
By Evan Charney, KPAX News