2013 Pulse Checkoff by Shannon Berndt - Northern Pulse Growers ...

Pulse Check-off...
Creating opportunity & profitability
Shannon Berndt, NPGA Executive Director

Northern Pulse Growers Association
• Began in 2006 with a vote of Montana producers to join the
North Dakota Dry Pea & Lentil Association
• Membership includes more than 400 producers & industry
representatives
• Led by an elected Board of Directors comprised of 10
Montana & North Dakota pulse producers
• Majority of funding is through producer check off funds
– This is based on 1% of the net value of the pulse crop sold
I
III
II
IV V
VI
VII

Funding Sources
Montana
Pulse
Advisory
Committee
Memberships
Sponsorships
Grants
ND Dry Pea &
Lentil Council
NPGA

Program Areas
Government Education
Research
Marketing
Education

U.S. Pulse Growing Regions
Source: USADPLC

Dry Pea Production
900000
800000
700000
600000
500000
400000
300000
ND Harvested Acres
MT Harvested Acres
NASS Harvested Acres
200000
100000
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Source: USDA/NASS

Lentil Production
700000
600000
500000
400000
300000
ND Harvested Acres
MT Harvested Acres
NASS Harvested Acres
200000
100000
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Source: USDA/NASS

Chickpea Acreage
160000
140000
120000
100000
80000
ND Harvested Acres
MT Harvested Acres
NASS Harvested Acres
60000
40000
20000
0
2008 2009 2010 2011
Source: USDA/NASS

NPGA Research Timeline
June
Funding established from NDDPLC
RFP’s distributed
December
Funding established from MPAC
January
Producer priority survey
February
Producer priority survey NPGA Research Review Award notification
March
Funding distribution

Strong Research Collaborations

Strong Research = Producer Profitability
NDSU/MSU
Research/
Education
Extension
Weed control
Value-added
NDSU
Food
Science
$
Pulse
Breeding
Program
Livestock Feed
Pest issues
Disease issues
Northern
Crops
Institute
Pulse
Quality
Program
Improved varieties
Product development
Improved processing

Research Accomplishments
Strong regional support for the pulse industry from ND
Legislature, NDSU & SBARE
Established pulse/oilseed technician at NCI
Established northern great plains breeding program
Established national pulse quality program
Established pulse pathology program at NDSU

Regions Pulse Breeding Program
• Under direction of Dr. Kevin McPhee, NDSU
• In 5 th year
• Collaborations across region as well as
• USDA/ARS, Pullman WA
• Assistant breeder position at NCREC—Minot
• Development of varieties suited to region

Regions Pulse Breeding Program
• Dr. Chengci Chen, Central Ag Research
Center in Moccasin, MT
• CARC was established in 1907
• First pea variety trials conducted in 1912
• Crop rotation trials conducted 40’s, 50’s & 60’s
– CARC, Moccasin MT
– NARC, Havre, MT
– SARC, Huntley, MT

Pulse Quality Lab
• Under direction of Dr. Dil Thavarajah
• In 3 rd Year
• National lab in scope
• National Crop Quality report/analysis
• Micronutrient analysis
• Works with breeding programs for variety development

Pulse Pathology
• Dr. Julie Pasche, NDSU
• Was hired in 2012
• Prior work in potato industry
– Foliar
– Soil-borne diseases
• Will work closely with breeding programs to
develop genetic resistance

Livestock Research
• Dr. Vern Anderson, Carrington Research
Extension Center
• Peas are palatable, easy to process & handle
and are nutrient dense
• Research conducted by Dr. Anderson indicated
a link between feeding a ration that incorporated
peas with a tenderness affect on meat product

USDA Specialty Crop Grants Received
• Since 2006, the NPGA has been awarded more than
$300,000 in USDA Specialty Crop Grants
• Contracted with Northern Crops Institute in Fargo, ND to
develop formulations and provide technical education
• Projects included:
– Pulse flour/fraction specifications (2007)
– Food service formulations (2010)
– Gluten free formulations (2011)
– Health/Nutrition Consumer Recipes (2012)

Northern Crops Institute
• Been extremely helpful to the pulse industry both in
domestic and international marketing efforts
• Additional projects NPGA has planned with NCI
include:
– Snack food formulations (2011)
– Starch formulations (2012)

New Value Added Processing
• Flours
• Isolates
• Fiber
• Starch
• Flakes
• Extruded

National Trade Shows

Technical Education

Focus on Children’s Nutrition
Focus on improving children’s nutrition
– Call to re-structure school lunch
guidelines
– First Lady, Michelle Obama’s
―Let’s Move campaign
– Whole pulses are currently
included on school commodity
listing
– Goal to get pulse flours included
as well

School Food Systems

Producer Education
• Producer Meetings
– Annual convention
– Montana Pulse Day
– Pulse tours
• Average more than 650 attendees at annual NPGA
sponsored events

Producer Education
• Information/Material Development
– Website
– The Pulse—also available in e-news format
– Publications, brochures & educational materials
• Research bulletins/publications
• Check off brochures/education materials
• Participation and/or sponsorship of local and regional shows

Regional Trade Show Representation
MonDak Pulse Day

Consumer/Children’s Education
• Consumer recipes
• Children’s educational materials
• Sponsorships
– Ag in Montana Schools
– Ag in the Classroom MT & ND

The Road Ahead….
Additional Opportunities & Increased Profitability
• Increase acreage
– Varietal development/developing quality characteristics
– Providing disease/weed/pest management tools
– Increased processing capacity
• Domestic market development
– Health/nutrition research
– Public education
– Increase in value added processing/availability of products
• International market development
– Continued global technical education on value added processing
– Increase in acreage (supply)
– Education/promotion on quality of product

Thank you for your support!