When growers contribute to the Montana Pulse Checkoff Program, they are investing in much more than research plots and laboratory studies. They are investing in information.
In agriculture, information can be every bit as valuable as a new variety, a fungicide application or a favorable weather forecast. Knowing what diseases are present, where they are occurring and how they are spreading can help growers make better decisions long before a problem becomes a crisis.
That is the idea behind a new disease survey initiative being led by Dr. Frankie Crutcher, associate professor and plant pathologist at Montana State University’s Eastern Agricultural Research Center in Sidney. Supported by Montana Pulse Checkoff funding, the project is working to create a statewide picture of disease, insect and crop health issues in Montana pulse fields while providing direct support to growers.
Building an Early Warning System
The concept grew from conversations between growers and the Montana Pulse Crop Committee.
Crutcher recalled discussions with growers who were concerned that many producers simply did not know how widespread certain diseases had become.
“The whole thing started because of a conversation that I had with Paul Canning,” Crutcher said. “He felt that there were some farmers that were not taking the threat seriously because they just didn’t know how much was out there and where it was at.”
Rather than waiting for major outbreaks to occur, the goal became creating a system that could identify problems earlier, monitor trends and provide growers with better information.
Today, the project includes 27 pea and lentil fields across northeastern Montana. Researchers visit participating fields every two weeks, collecting plant samples, scouting for insects and documenting emerging issues.
“We could kind of bridge research and outreach and education and do something that does both,” Crutcher said. “We’re identifying new diseases, monitoring current diseases, helping farmers one-on-one in the field and educating them.”
What Happens in the Field?
The survey is far more than simply looking for disease symptoms.
Participating growers provide information about field history, seed treatments and crop management practices. Researchers then regularly scout those fields throughout the growing season.
Graduate student and research staff members collect samples from struggling plants and bring them back to the laboratory for diagnosis. Samples are also sent for molecular testing to help identify specific pathogens present in the roots.
Researchers are monitoring:
• Root rot diseases
• Foliar diseases
• Aphids and other insect pests
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Herbicide injury and carryover issues
• General crop health concerns
“We’re looking for plants that aren’t doing well,” Crutcher said. “We’re collecting samples, bringing them back to the lab and identifying what’s causing those issues as best as we can.”
What They Are Finding This Year
Montana’s challenging 2026 growing season has already revealed valuable insights.
While many growers associate root rot with wet conditions, Crutcher explained that drought stress can actually increase certain types of root rot.
“Every field that we sampled so far for root rot has had Fusarium root rot,” she said.
According to Crutcher, drought-stressed plants become more vulnerable to opportunistic pathogens such as Fusarium.
“People think root rot is only a wet-year problem,” she said. “Fusarium especially is very opportunistic and likes a plant that’s being stressed by other things.”
That kind of information can help growers better understand what they are seeing in their own fields and make more informed management decisions.
Connecting Research to Real-World Decisions
For Crutcher, one of the most important aspects of the program is that it doesn’t stop with data collection.
Researchers share findings directly with participating growers and work to connect them with specialists who can help address specific issues.
“We want to help them be more successful in the future,” she said.
The project also creates a larger benefit for Montana agriculture. At the end of each season, researchers will compile the information into reports, disease distribution maps and educational resources that can be shared across the industry.
“We’re going to make a final report that we make available to the whole community so they can see the full picture of what’s happening,” Crutcher said.
That information helps guide future research priorities, educational efforts and industry investments.
Creating the Data Needed for Future Research
One of the biggest challenges facing researchers is demonstrating the economic impact of diseases.
Growers know disease problems can cost money, but quantifying those losses can be difficult.
Crutcher hopes the survey program will begin building the data necessary to answer those questions.
“We would like to take our data and actually be able to show an economic impact for particular diseases,” she said.
That information can help researchers compete for federal grants, justify future research investments and support educational programs aimed at reducing losses.
In other words, today’s field scouting can help unlock tomorrow’s solutions.
Why Checkoff Funding Matters
Perhaps the most direct connection to growers came when Crutcher was asked how Montana Pulse Checkoff funding made the project possible.
Her answer was immediate.
“It wouldn’t be possible otherwise. End of story.”
Research funding remains challenging nationwide, and innovative programs often struggle to find support during difficult economic times.
Crutcher credits Montana pulse growers and the Montana Pulse Crop Committee for recognizing the long-term value of the effort.
“It’s very easy when things are tough to shut down and not do something new,” she said. “I’m incredibly grateful that they were able to see what this program can be and be willing to invest in it.”
Looking Five Years Ahead
Although the project is still in its first full season, Crutcher already has a clear vision of success.
“I hope that the program has empowered them to make good decisions,” she said. “I hope that it has helped them increase their yields, their disease and pest management, and that it has impacted them in a positive way.”
For Montana pulse growers, that may be the most important takeaway.
The Montana Pulse Checkoff Program is not simply funding research for research’s sake. It is funding information, education and tools that help growers manage risk, protect yields and improve profitability.
The diseases being tracked today may be the problems growers avoid tomorrow.
And that’s exactly how checkoff investments are intended to work.
▶ Want to learn more about how Montana Pulse Checkoff dollars are supporting research, education and grower success across the state? Visit the Montana Pulse Crop Committee online and follow future updates from this disease survey project throughout the growing season.
