For most Montana pulse growers, Washington, D.C., can feel a long way from the farm gate.
Yet decisions made in the nation’s capital influence everything from export opportunities and trade agreements to nutrition programs, crop insurance, transportation infrastructure, and agricultural research. Those decisions can have a direct impact on the profitability and long-term viability of pulse farming in Montana.
That is one reason Montana pulse checkoff money is invested in organizations and initiatives that ensure pulse growers have a seat at the table.
As Montana Pulse Checkoff Committee board member and Montana pulse grower Todd Hansen explains, the power of the checkoff comes from producers working together.
“As a grower, we pool all the money that we have. If you were to do it individually, you would never get anywhere,” Hansen said. “By pooling it, we can actually move the needle.”
Montana’s Voice Becomes Part of a Larger Voice
Montana is the nation’s leading producer of dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas, harvesting more than one million acres of pulse crops annually. Yet compared to larger commodity sectors, pulse crops remain a relatively specialized segment of American agriculture.
That reality makes collaboration essential.
Through partnerships with organizations such as USA Pulses and the Northern Pulse Growers Association (NPGA), Montana producers join growers from other pulse-producing states to advocate for policies that support market development, research, trade, and nutrition initiatives. These organizations maintain a consistent presence in Washington and engage policymakers on issues affecting pulse growers nationwide.
For Hansen, who farms near Gildford, Montana, that long-term relationship building is critical.
“It doesn’t happen unless you’ve got somebody back there paying attention,” he said. “If we stop, then we have to start all over again.”
Relationships Matter
In agriculture, policy conversations rarely happen overnight.
Whether discussing trade agreements, crop insurance provisions, transportation issues, or federal nutrition programs, meaningful progress often comes from years of relationship building with lawmakers, agency officials, and congressional staff.
Hansen has participated in multiple visits to Washington and says one of the most encouraging developments has been seeing policymakers become increasingly familiar with the pulse industry.
“Every time we’ve been there, when we walk into a senator or representative’s office, they’re starting to understand who we are and what we represent,” Hansen said. “It’s not educating them every time we walk in the door.”
That familiarity matters because pulse growers face unique challenges and opportunities. Maintaining awareness among policymakers helps ensure pulses are included in conversations that historically focused primarily on larger commodity crops.
“We’re not an afterthought anymore,” Hansen said.
Why Policy Matters to Pulse Growers
Many of the issues affecting pulse producers originate far beyond Montana’s borders.
Trade relationships influence access to key export markets such as India, one of the world’s largest consumers of pulses. Nutrition policies can shape demand in schools, food assistance programs, and institutional purchasing. Federal research funding supports innovation that improves yields, disease management, and crop quality.
Today, pulses are receiving increasing attention because they align with several national priorities.
Federal dietary guidance continues to recognize the nutritional benefits of pulses, highlighting their unique ability to serve as both a vegetable and a protein source. Recent discussions around nutrition policy, fiber consumption, and affordable protein have further elevated their profile.
USA Pulses and other industry organizations actively engage policymakers on trade, nutrition, and agricultural policy issues that impact pulse growers. Recent Farm Bill discussions, for example, included provisions related to trade tools, nutrition incentive programs, and farm safety-net programs important to pulse producers.
For growers, these discussions are not abstract policy debates. They can influence market access, demand growth, and profitability.
No Single Farmer Could Do This Alone
The Montana Pulse Crop Committee’s strategic plan emphasizes a simple but important principle: producer dollars should be invested where they create the greatest return for Montana growers.
Many of the most important outcomes in agriculture happen through collective action.
No individual farmer can fund national market development programs. No individual grower can maintain relationships with congressional offices across multiple administrations. No single operation can effectively advocate for pulse inclusion in nutrition programs, export initiatives, or federal research priorities.
Working together, however, growers can.
That is one reason the MPCC supports partnerships that extend Montana’s influence beyond state borders while ensuring Montana producers remain part of national conversations that shape the future of the pulse industry.
Your Checkoff Dollars at Work
When producers ask where their checkoff dollars go, part of the answer is straightforward: helping ensure Montana pulse growers have a voice where important decisions are made.
That voice supports efforts to expand markets, strengthen research, increase consumer awareness, improve policy outcomes, and position pulse crops as an increasingly important part of America’s food system.
As Hansen sees it, the value is clear.
“If you were to do it individually, you would never get anywhere.”
Together, Montana pulse growers are helping ensure their industry is not only heard, but recognized as an essential part of the future of agriculture.
Because every checkoff dollar is more than an assessment.
It is an investment in the long-term success of Montana pulse farming.
