The US group, Coors Brewing Company, announced on July 10 it will buy $10 million worth of barley from 155 growers in Montana, and $7 million for barley grown by 116 farmers in Wyoming. The announcement came during the Coors-sponsored Barley Field Day in Huntley. In Wyoming, Coors contracted with 116 growers in the Big Horn Basin to grow 20,000 acres to yield 2 million bushels of the company's patented two-row Moravian barley. In Montana, the company has contracted with 155 growers in the Billings area and along the High Line to grow 36,000 acres to yield 3 million bushels.

The company also gave out awards. The top grower in Montana is Greg Miller of Billings. The Environmental Conservation Award went to a cooperative consisting of the Benzel Brothers, Webber Farms, Tim Schumway and John L. Mehling, all of the Hardin area, for their efforts to improve irrigation efficiency. The top grower in the northern Big Horn Basin is Greg Borcher of Powell. The top grower for the southern Big Horn Basin was Jordan Farms of Worland.

11 July, 2003