Timeless Seeds in Montana: History, What It Grows, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Timeless Seeds is a farmer-founded organic pulse and heirloom grain business based at Ulm, Montana, started in 1987 and built around the Black Beluga lentil. It sources certified organic lentils, peas, chickpeas and ancient grains from 40 to 50 family farms across roughly 10,000 to 15,000 acres, according to a Non-GMO Report profile.
| Location | Ulm, Montana (processing facility); growers across Montana |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1987, by farmers Bud Barta, Jim Barngrover and Tom Hastings |
| Sectors | Organic lentils, peas, chickpeas, farro, emmer, hulless and purple barley; retail packaging |
| Scale | About 10,000 to 15,000 acres from 40 to 50 farms, varying by year; 10,000 sq ft Ulm facility acquired in 2006 |
| Why it is notable | Montana pioneer in organic pulses; Black Beluga Lentils is its best-known product; sells nationally and abroad |
| Ownership | Farmer-founded company; David Oien, a third-generation farmer, is its public face |
| Official website | Non-GMO Report profile of Timeless Seeds |
History of Timeless Seeds
Timeless Seeds began in 1987 as a cover crop seed business, originally selling the George black medic cover crop for organic and low-input farmers. The company first leased a grain elevator in Conrad, Montana, and later moved into a 10,000-square-foot facility at Ulm in 2006.
Over time it shifted from cover crop seed to organic food crops and launched its own branded retail line in 2001. Today it also works with farmers on organic transition and has hired an agronomist for that purpose.
What Timeless Seeds Grows and Raises
The company works with contracted family farms in Montana, including north-central Montana. Crops include French Green and Black Beluga lentils, peas, Black Kabuli and Black Butte chickpeas, farro, emmer wheat, hulless barley, Purple Prairie Barley and other heirloom grains. All are grown under certified organic rules.
Montana grew more pulses than any other state in 2024, according to the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council, producing about 74 percent of U.S. lentils and 55 percent of dry peas. Pulses fit dryland rotations by adding nitrogen to the soil, so they work well alongside organic cereals.
How Timeless Seeds Makes Money
Contract-grown organic pulses
Timeless Seeds buys from family farms and processes, cleans and packages the crop. Growers get a home for organic rotation crops, and the company gets consistent supply.
Branded retail line
The Timeless Natural Food line puts lentils, peas, chickpeas and heirloom grains on store shelves. The Non-GMO Report described Black Beluga Lentils as the company's calling card.
Wholesale and food service
Customers include natural food distributors and stores, food manufacturers, meal kit companies and restaurants such as Sweetgreen, with sales reaching Europe, South America and Asia.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Timeless Seeds
Build a market before you ask farmers to change. A buyer committed to organic pulses gives growers confidence to try a new rotation crop, and the agronomist adds practical help during transition.
Brand the one product people remember. Black Beluga lentils give a Montana pulse company a name that buyers ask for, which beats competing as an anonymous commodity.
Timeless Seeds has proven that a lentil can have a better brand than most politicians, and the Black Beluga has the dark good looks to match. If you love farm satire, farm humor, ranch humor and farm jokes about chickpeas that insist on being called Black Kabuli, roll over to farm.FM, where our punchlines are certified organic and none of them have been through a sieve.
The outlet behind those laughs, farm.FM, is the nation's first satirical farm site, complete with Tractor Tunes country music for farmers. A farm.FM humorist's archive shows what a week of it looks like.
How to Contact Timeless Seeds
Website: https://non-gmoreport.com/?p=7511
No company website, street address, phone or email was available in the sources reviewed, so the best verified public page is the Non-GMO Report profile, November 2026. Confirm current ordering and wholesale contacts before sending inquiries.
Timeless Seeds Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Non-GMO Report - Montana lentil farmers build a thriving organic business
- Northern Ag Network - Montana pulse crop industry expands to largest in the US in 2024
- Montana Department of Agriculture - Pulse marketing and production information
- Montana State University Extension - Montana Cool-season Pulse Production Guide
- USDA NASS Quick Stats - Crop acreage and production data
Timeless Seeds FAQ
Where is Timeless Seeds?
Its processing facility is at Ulm, Montana, and it sources from farms across the state.
When was it founded?
1987, by Montana farmers Bud Barta, Jim Barngrover and Tom Hastings.
What is Timeless Seeds best known for?
Black Beluga Lentils and other organic pulses and heirloom grains.
How much land supplies the company?
About 10,000 to 15,000 acres from 40 to 50 farms, varying with crop rotations.
Timeless Seeds shows how Montana farmers can pool their organic crops into a brand with a loyal following and national reach. For more notable operations and practical guidance on markets, programs and credit, see the Montana farms guide.