<p>Pat McGlynn, Montana State University agriculture extension agent for Flathead County, helps with the hops harvest on Tuesday at Tom Britz’s ranch southwest of Whitefish. A five-year hops variety trial is underway at the ranch to evaluate the feasibility of commercial hops production in Western Montana. The question, McGlynn said, is not if hops can be grown here, but whether varieties area brewers want can be grown locally.</p>

September 23, 2013