About Montana Safflower
Rooted in Community, Grown for the Future
Montana Safflower is more than a cooking oil—it’s a commitment to Montana agriculture, rural communities, and the people who make our food system possible. Owned by the Montana Farmers Union, our work is grounded in cooperative values, long-term thinking, and a belief that farmers should never have to stand alone.
A Legacy of Standing Together
Montana Farmers Union is a grassroots, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the agricultural way of life. Its membership is made up of people who care deeply about rural communities and family farms and ranches. For generations, Farmers Union has worked to ensure fairness for farmers, fairness for families, and a future where agriculture remains strong and viable. At its core is a simple belief: no farmer or rancher should have to face challenges alone. That belief continues to guide advocacy, education, and community-building efforts across Montana.
Why We Exist
Montana Farmers Union purchased The Oil Barn-a Montana-based, cold-press safflower oil business-with a clear and practical goal: create a win for both consumers and farmers. Consumers deserve a cooking oil made without harsh refining or chemical solvents. Farmers deserve more market options that keep value in Montana and strengthen family farms. Montana Safflower brings those goals together by producing a clean, high-quality oil while building a reliable, value-added market for Montana growers.
Where Purity Meets Performance
We produce high-oleic safflower oil grown in Montana and pressed using only mechanical pressure-no chemical solvents, no heavy refining. The oil is lightly filtered to preserve its natural flavor, vitamin E, and monounsaturated fats. The result is a neutral-tasting, high-smoke-point oil that performs beautifully in frying, baking, sautéing, and everyday cooking. It's an oil we're proud to produce-and proud to put on the table.
A Smarter Crop for Montana
Safflower is uniquely suited to Montana’s growing conditions. Its deep roots help break up hardpan and reach moisture and nutrients below the root zone of many common crops. It’s shatter resistant, holds up better to wind and hail, and harvests later—helping spread out harvest demands. In irrigated systems, safflower can be watered early to build deep soil moisture, allowing irrigation to shift to other crops during peak summer demand. On dryland acres, its resilience means it can still produce a harvestable crop even in tough drought years. These agronomic advantages translate into greater stability for farmers and a more dependable supply for consumers.
Value-Added Agriculture That Matters
With commodity markets tightening and global trade shifts squeezing farm margins, value-added production matters more than ever. By expanding Montana safflower acreage and investing in local processing, we’re creating a durable market that supports growers, keeps dollars closer to home, and strengthens rural economies. This isn’t about chasing volume or cutting corners. It’s about building something sustainable—economically, environmentally, and socially.
Advocacy, Fairness, and Trust
The Montana Farmers Union continues to fight for fairness for farmers and fairness for families. That includes advocating for transparency in the food system, such as supporting mandatory country-of-origin labeling so consumers know where their food truly comes from. It also means addressing the realities of rural life. Farming is a high-stress occupation, and rural communities face unique mental health challenges. Supporting community health and well-being is essential to sustaining agriculture for future generations.
Investing in the Next Generation
Montana Safflower carries forward the same cooperative mindset that built Farmers Union in the first place. We're investing with foresight-so that someday our kids and grandkids can look back and say this generation chose to support Montana agriculture, strengthen rural communities, and build something lasting. If you'd like to learn more, partner with us, or be part of this effort, we'd love to hear from you.