Governor Gianforte visits Cascade and Judith Basin counties

MOCCASIN, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte continued his 56 County Tour in Cascade and Judith Basin counties meeting with local agricultural producers.

 Starting the day in Cascade County, the governor toured Third Day Family Farms, a flower farm in Vaughn that sells fresh flowers to the community. For nearly ten years, the Daugherty’s have been producing flowers year-round for sale at its farmstand, in partner stores, and at the Great Falls Farmers Market. In the winter, they grow 53,000 of tulips in their greenhouse. The farm also operates a subscription service which delivers customers fresh bouquets weekly or bi-monthly.

Continuing to Judith Basin County, Gov. Gianforte visited the Heartland Seed Company in Moccasin. For over 30 years, the company has produced high-quality seed and treatment solutions for farmers across the state growing wheat, barley, pulses, cereal forages, alfalfa, grasses, and cover crops. In 1995, two local farmers, Bing VonBergen and Steve Grove, founded Heartland Seed to supply Central Montana with high-quality seed and the newest genetics. Recently, the company was purchased by Eric Gray, the company’s former sales manager, to continue operations.

During the visit, the governor also got an update on harvest season as pulse season begins. 

Supporting Montana producers who add value to Montana agriculture is a top priority for the governor. Under Gov. Gianforte’s leadership, the Montana Department of Agriculture is focused on expanding value-added agriculture opportunities to allow producers to capture more of the value they create. To support producers and small business owners, the governor has raised the exemption on Montana’s Business Equipment Tax to eliminate the tax for more than 5,000 small businesses, farms, and ranches.