LETHBRIDGE – A plate full of a brown, ground up material that looks like dirt is actually a high value livestock feed derived from sunflowers.
It is just one of the products coming from Montana Specialty Mills based in Great Falls and Conrad, Montana.
The 60-year-old company processes oilseeds for a variety of livestock feed and food markets. The Great Falls plant handles about 80,000 pounds of oilseed every 24 hours while the Conrad plant puts through 65,000 lb.
Much of the raw canola, mustard and flax comes from Canada, said buyer Greg Buckel at the Lethbridge Ag Expo Feb. 28.
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“About 80 percent of what we buy is probably Alberta grown flax,” said Buckel.
Flax meal may be found in whole grain flours. Flaxseed oil rich in
omega 3 fatty acids may find its way into cooking oil or a butter additive to boost the valuable fatty acid content.
Flaxseed oil, also known as linseed oil, is also used for industrial purposes while the meal may used as a livestock feed supplement for poultry rations to produce omega 3-enhanced eggs.
About 90 percent of the raw canola processed at the Great Falls facility comes from Canada. Of particular interest is organic canola. It is processed into organic cooking oils and the meal is shipped to organic dairies in Idaho and California.
Organic canola has been hauled from as far away as LaCrete, Alta., and northeast of Saskatoon. However, most of the crops the U.S. company buys come from 160 kilometres around Lethbridge.
Mustard is also brought in from Canada through contracts and ground up for condiments, spices, oil or used as a food extender and binder in products like pepperoni. Mustard is processed at Conrad.
The company also deals in sunflowers and safflowers for human food and livestock consumption. Its lines include the high oleic sunflower that is high in monounsaturated acid.
This line of sunflowers produces a trans fat-free oil that may be used for fried products, bakery goods, a sprayed on oil coating for cereal, crackers, dried fruit and non-dairy creamers.
The biggest challenge for the company this year could be fighting for oilseed acres because more Montana farmers say they are planting more spring wheat, durum and barley to take advantage of record prices.
The company secures its oilseeds on the open market although mustard is generally obtained through contracts.
It hopes farmers see the high continuing demand for oilseeds and plant adequate amounts because the prices are still competitive, said Buckel.
The company is a privately owned subsidiary of Evans Grain in Utah.
