Montana’s pulse industry is growing stronger each year, and one of the key figures behind that success is Dr. Giseli Valentini, a pulse crop breeder at Montana State University (MSU). Through her work and partnership with USA Pulses, Dr. Valentini...
India’s recent announcement that it aims to become fully self-sufficient in pulse production by 2028 is raising red flags for pulse exporters around the globe—including growers in Montana. India consumes approximately 30 million tonnes of pulses annually and currently produces...
With the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans under development, a new force is emerging in the national nutrition conversation: MAHA—Make America Healthy Again. While it may sound political, MAHA may become less partisan and more about reshaping how food policy...
Montana pulse grower Justin Miller recently joined Governor Greg Gianforte’s late-October 2025 trade mission to South Korea and Japan, where the delegation worked to strengthen international partnerships and promote Montana’s agricultural exports. For Miller, a fourth-generation farmer from Gildford, the...
As Montana continues to lead the nation in pulse crop production, the Montana Pulse Crop Committee is proud to introduce a new series of conversations with those shaping the future of agriculture in Big Sky Country. In this first installment,...
Chickpeas go by many names—chickpea, garbanzo, Kabuli, and Desi—but they don’t all mean the same thing. “Chickpea” and “garbanzo” are just different words for the same crop, while “Kabuli” and “Desi” describe two distinct market types with different sizes, colors,...
In the world of pulse crops—where dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas power markets and nourish millions—the organizational structure behind the scenes can be a little confusing to some. With similar names, overlapping missions, and multiple acronyms, it’s easy to wonder:...
If you’ve ever wondered why chickpeas seem to go by so many different names—chickpeas, garbanzo beans, Kabuli, Desi—you’re not alone. While they all refer to the same plant species (Cicer arietinum), these terms come from different linguistic and cultural origins....
Montana is no stranger to leading the way in pulse crop production. As one of the top producers of dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas in the nation, it’s fair to ask: why don’t we have a food festival to celebrate...