If you’re a Montana farmer growing lentils, dry peas, or chickpeas, you’ve likely heard the term pulse crops used by researchers, checkoff programs, and grain marketers. But have you ever stopped to wonder: why are they called “pulses” in the...
If you’ve ever heard the catchy phrases “Got Milk?” or “The Incredible, Edible Egg,” you’ve already seen checkoff dollars at work. These iconic slogans didn’t come from ad agencies hired by individual dairy farmers or egg producers. They were born...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a significant reorganization: it’s relocating much of its Washington, D.C.–based workforce to new regional hubs across the country. For Montana’s pulse crop growers, this shift could open the door to more responsive...
When Montana pulse farmer and MPCC board member Paul Kanning traveled to Morocco this September, he returned with a clear message for his fellow growers: the future is full of potential — especially in Africa. “This was my first international...
Montana pulse farmers are at the heart of a national movement. At its 2025 conference, USA Pulses announced a bold plan to double both consumption and production of peas, lentils, chickpeas, and dry beans by 2030. That goal pairs perfectly...
It’s hard to overstate just how much of a game-changer it was when scientists first realized that certain crops—specifically legumes like dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas—could pull nitrogen straight from the air and deposit it in the soil. Today, Montana...
Montana’s pulse industry had an important opportunity to showcase its work when Rep. Troy Downing visited Columbia Grain’s processing facility. Joined by industry representatives, growers, and media, Downing toured the plant and engaged in a wide-ranging conversation about the challenges...
Montana State University issued an Ag Alert on Thursday after a Palmer amaranth plant was confirmed for the first time in Hill County, Montana in August 2025. It would be the fourth confirmed occurrence of this weed in Montana, some...
For Montana pulse growers, the Farm Bill is more than just federal legislation—it is the backbone of support programs that help manage risk, protect soil and water, and keep markets strong. Yet as of late August 2025, Congress has not...