The Pulse - April 2013 - Northern Pulse Growers Association

April 2013 FEATURES
Soil Testing Pulse Crops
President’s Message
Meet Your New Board Members
Convention Wrap-up
NCI’s New Technical Director
NPGA Research Funding Distribution
A Message from Shannon Berndt
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NORTHERN PULSE GROWERS ASSOCIATION
The Northern Pulse Growers
Association would like to
thank the 2013 Sponsors!
Soil Testing Pulse Crops
By Chris Augustin, NDSU-NCREC Area Extension Specialist/Soil Health
Clocks are now turned ahead an hour, the days are getting
longer, and snow is melting. Spring is on the way and the
planters will follow shortly in the field! This is now the time
to plan for the fertility of your crop. If you didn’t soil test last
fall, you should soil test prior to planting. A soil test will tell
you what the nutrient levels are in the soil and is the first step
in proper plant nutrition. Soil tests and calibrated fertilizer
applicators help save money and ensure crop yield goals.
Soil sampling can be easily done with a push probe,
shovel, or mechanically powered probe. Soil samples
are usually taken at the 0 to 6 inch depth and 6 to 24 inch
depth. The 0 to 6 inch depth range is usually tested for
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic matter, electrical
conductivity, pH, and various micronutrients. The 6 to 24 inch depth is usually tested for
nitrogen since it can leach.
Great Northern Ag
Averaging a field involves taking 20 or more soil samples randomly across a field. Taking
20 samples or more is important because it can help account for variability. Mix the
samples together in a clean plastic bucket and take a composited sub-sample to submit
to a lab. Be sure to fill the soil sample bag to the recommended amount. This method
works well in a uniform field. However, if you are sampling a field that varies greatly
you might want to look into sampling the different areas of the field and testing those
individually.
Nitrogen isn’t a concern with pulse crops since they can fix nitrogen in the soil. Fields
testing low in nitrogen should benefit from a small amount of nitrogen. Be sure to
inoculate your seed with appropriate Rhizobium bacteria so nitrogen fixation occurs.
However, phosphorus and potassium are important for healthy legumes. NDSU
Extension publication SF-882 North Dakota Fertilizer Recommendation Tables and
Equations is a great source of information for planning out fertilizer applications.
You may wonder, “what does ppm (parts per million) mean on a soil test report?” Well, an
acre of 6 inches of topsoil weighs roughly two-million pounds. So if you multiply the ppm
result on a soil test by two, that will give you an idea of how many pounds of that nutrient
is in the soil. (con’t. on page 4.)
northernpulse.com (1)

1710 Burnt Boat Drive
Bismarck, ND 58503
Phone. 701.222.0128
Fax. 701.222.6340
E-mail. info@northernpulse.com
Website. northernpulse.com
Board of Directors
Beau Anderson......... President
At Large, Williston, ND 701.875.2328
Jerry Schillinger....... V. President
District III, Circle, MT 406.485.2479
Paul Berntson........... Secretary
District VII, Adams, ND 701.944.2449
Kristian Sorum.......... Treasurer
District V, Flaxton, ND 701.848.6347
Steve Miner............... Director
District I, Richland, MT 406.725.3201
Mark Hardy................ Director
District VI, Beach, ND 701.218.0084
Jon Stoner................. Director
At Large, Havre, MT 406.265.2193
Chad Doheny............ Director
At Large, Dutton, MT 406.627.2390
Chris Westergard...... Director
District II, Dagmar, MT 406.390.6477
Mark Schmidt Director
District VI, Tioga, ND 701.664.2988
Associate Directors
Mary Burrows.................Bozeman, MT
406.994.7766
Chet Hill...........................Williston, ND
701.774.4315
Brad Hertel......................Casselton, ND
701.347.9965
John Raisler....................Beach, ND
701.837-4777
Eric Bartsch....................Bismarck, ND
701.751.1623
Wayne Schmitz...............Minot, ND
701.568.3315
Aaron Holter....................Williston, ND
701.774.0055
NPGA Staff
Shannon Berndt .....Executive Director
Kaye Effertz ............Marketing Director
Dolores Rohrich ....Communications/
Membership Dir.
Mary Bartsch...........Admin Assistant
Greetings:
President’s Message
It is with great pleasure that I am writing this message
as the newly elected President of the NPGA.
Ryan Brooks has been a long time board member
and his tireless efforts to our organization will be
missed and hard to replace.
With the coming of 2013, brings the realization
that the Farm Bill isn’t fulfilled, we have heard
the State of the Union Address, and despite our
frustrations, life goes on and another crop year is
upon us. Farmers are no strangers to frustration,
as we deal with it regularly. However, in watching
something as simple as a Superbowl commercial
featuring Paul Harvey’s “So God Made a Farmer”, Beau Anderson – NPGA President
this poem should be a reminder to us all of why we do what we do. We are all stewards
of the land, but we are also active in our communities bringing hard working ethics
to the boards we sit on. It is this kind of ethic that needs to be passed up through
the leadership of the NPGA, the ND Dry Pea and Lentil Council, and the US Dry Pea
and Lentil Council. These elected officials are working hard for the farmers to bring
this message a step farther to Washington DC, in hopes that responsible legislation
can take the United States and the American farmer into a new era where we can
continue our mission of feeding the people of our country as well as a good portion of
the world.
I also serve as a Farm and Ranch Management instructor at Williston State College,
and I encourage each and every farmer to use the tools provided through educational
services and extension offices. Late winter and early spring are great times to go
through the NDSU crop budgets and tweak those last minute planting decisions. The
data given in these budgets are provided by the North Dakota Farm Business Management
Education Association and originates from actual farms and ranches from
each region in the state. These numbers are then custom tailored for each region and
made available for use in the decision making process.
Using free educational tools makes production decisions just a little easier, and proves
that a continuing rotation with pulse crops is still profitable when compared to crops
with much higher input costs.
If you all are like me, springtime and planting season is a busy time, but is almost
as comforting as a Arizona vacation in December. While some like to sit in an easy
chair with a drink, I enjoy a few weeks of comforting tractor time while planting lentils,
chickpeas, malt barley, and durum. Maybe it will give me some time to write an inspirational
poem like Paul Harvey’s titled, “There’s Always Next Year” or, “So God Gave
Me the Patience to Farm in
the Bakken!”
Have a great and safe
planting season, and the
start of a record growing
season. And if not, I guess
there is always next year!
Respectfully,
Beau Anderson
Yellow Fields Peas
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AC Agassiz, AC Thunderbird
Green Field Peas
*New - Daytona
Cooper
Kabuli Chickpea
*New - CDC Alma
*New - CDC Orion
CDC Frontier
CDC Luna
Desi Chickpea
CDC Corinee
Also
Inoculant & Seed Treatments
Wheat Chickpeas Flax Peas
Beans Lentils
bhertel@meridianseeds.com
wmuchow@meridianseeds.com
meridianseeds.com
866-282-7333
(2) northernpulse.com

Mark Hardy, District VI
Meet Your New Board Members
Mark Hardy is a young producer from Beach, ND. He is the 4th generation on Hardy
Farms! Mark graduated from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND in 2009 and
was selected as the Outstanding Senior in the Business Division where he studied
Business Administration, Finance, and Philosophy. He was involved in Student
Senate, Collegiate DECA, and was a Student Ambassador. After college, Mark worked
in consumer lending as a Senior Credit Manager for Wells Fargo in Fargo, ND. He
then moved to Beach, ND to be involved in agriculture production with his dad, Don
Hardy of Beach, ND.
Mark is a licensed insurance agent with Agri Insurance, Inc. in Beach, ND; specializing
in crop/hail, and farm and ranch insurance. Agri Insurance has offices in Beach,
Dickinson, Baker, MT; and Columbus, MT. Mark and Don also work in seed sales with
Syngenta’s AgriPro Wheat; hosting field days and plot tours on the family farm. Mark
raises wheat, canola, green peas, lentils, sunflowers, and corn in North Dakota and
Montana. Pulses are a rotational crop at Hardy Farms.
The Beach area has a number of active pulse growers, but the number of acres
planted is affected by increased corn and sunflower acres in recent years. Mark
wanted to be active within the Northern Pulse Growers Association due to the interest
in pulse crops in his area and to explore other opportunities and alternative markets
available to producers.
Chad Doheny, At Large, Dutton, MT (Bio will be in next edition)
Montana Pulse Crop Advisory Committee
Montana Department of Agriculture
PO Box 200201
Helena, MT 59620-0201
Phone. 406.444.2402
Fax. 406.444.9442
E-mail. agr@mt.gov
Michael Ehlers...............Producer
Oilmont, MT
Kim Murray....................Producer
Froid, MT
Grant Zerbe ..................Producer
Frazer, MT
Jon Stoner......................Producer
Harve, MT
Brian Kae.........................Producer
Dagmar, MT
Leta Campbell...............Marketing
Wolf Point, MT
Watch for the new 2013-14 Pulse Industry
Directory coming out this month. Your
convenient guide to the pulse industry,
extension, researchers and more.
PO Box 1352
Bismarck, ND 58501
Phone. 701.222.0128
Fax. 7011.222.6340
Jeff Knox.........................District 1
Ray, ND 701.568.3262
Callen Hoff, Chairman...District II
Richardton, ND 701.974.3375
Richard Mickelson........District III
Rolla, ND................................. 701.477.3617
James Haux..................District IV
McClusky, ND..............................701.363.2346
Kevin Haas, V-Chairman.District V
Jamestown, ND.........................701.763-6533
Doug Goehring.............Ex-Officio
Charles Carvel.........Legal Counsel
northernpulse.com (3)

NPGA Elects New Executive Team, Welcomes New Directors &
Honors Great Leaders in the Pulse Industry
More than 200 pulse growers from across the Midwest
gathered in January for the 20th Annual Northern Pulse
Growers Association Convention in Minot, ND. The
event, drew pulse producers, researchers and industry
representatives, giving them an opportunity to hear the
latest in pulse production, marketing, research and the pulse
breeding program.
The convention kicked off with North Dakota Researchers
giving an update on soil health, pest control, weeds and
diseases. Monday’s featured speaker was Jim Wiesemeyer
from Informa Economics, Senior VP of Farm & Trade Policy.
Monday evening concluded with an exhibitor social and
dinner.
Tuesday’s agenda started off with Steve Junghans giving a
crop insurance update, Dr. Thavarajah presenting on “Pulses
for Better Health” and Dr. McPhee updating attendees with
the NDSU Pulse Breeding Program. Tuesday morning’s event
wrapped up with a crop marketing outlook for 2013.
The NPGA presented Excellence and Service Awards to
people who take pride and excellence in their work. The 2013
Producer Excellence Award recipient was Jerry Schillinger,
Circle, MT; Industry Excellence Award recipients were Les
Soil Testing Pulse Crops con’t.
Soil tests do not test for the organic nitrogen in the soil. Because
of this, we add a nitrogen credit to a soil test from previous
legume crop. Pulse crops add 40 pounds of nitrogen to the soil.
This is great for crops rotations and cuts down on fertilizer cost.
For more information on soil testing and fertilizing crops, consult
NDSU Area Extension Specialist/Soil Health Chris Augustin at
the North Central Research Extension Center in Minot, 701-857-
7682 or chris.augustin@ndsu.edu.
& Diane Paulson, Bowman, ND and the Researcher Award
recipient was the Northern Crops Institute, Fargo, ND.
Service Awards were presented to Ryan Brooks, Bowman,
ND and Myron Blumhagen, Drake, ND who served on the
NPGA Board of Directors. Congratulations to all!
Board elections were also held during the annual business
meeting. Jerry Schillinger of Circle, MT (District III) and
Kristian Sorum, Flaxton, ND (District V) were re-elected to
serve another three year term. Chad Doheny, Dutton, MT
(District VI) and Mark Hardy, Beach, ND (At Large) were
elected to serve a first term as directors on the NPGA board.
Officers elected to the NPGA board are Beau Anderson,
Williston, ND, President; Jerry Schillinger, Circle, MT, Vice
President; Paul Berntson, Adams, ND Secretary; Kristian
Sorum, Flaxton, ND Treasurer. Additional members of the
NPGA board members include Mark Schmidt, Tioga, ND;
Mark Hardy, Beach, ND, Chad Doheny, Dutton, MT, Steve
Miner, Richland, MT, Chris Westergard, Dagmar, MT and Jon
Stoner, Havre, MT.
(4) northernpulse.com
Franzen, D. 2007 . SF -882

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Ask your local retailer or seed
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Nodulator Peat Granules – A favorite with many pea and lentil
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Nodulator Sterile Peat – Self-adhering properties produce uniform
seed coverage and deliver more than one billion rhizobia per gram.
Mixes easily with seed directly in the drill or planter.
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® Trademarks, registered or applied for,
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northernpulse.com (5)

David H. Hahn, Ph.D., has been named
Director of Technical Services and Business
Development at Northern Crops Institute (NCI).
Hahn has over 30 years of experience in
research, manufacturing, product development
and technical support at several American food
companies.
NCI Director Mark Weber says, “I am
delighted to announce the hiring of Dr. Hahn
as NCI’s Director of Technical and Business
Development. His long experience in the
private sector will provide invaluable expertise
to our programs. He will also be able to
provide excellent mentoring to our team of food
and cereal scientists, while working closely
with the NDSU faculty and scientists.”
Hahn’s professional experience centers
on bakery, pasta, tortillas, mixes, confectionery, sauces, milk
beverages and pudding products. He has been instrumental in
introducing many new food products, including Nature’s Own®
Brand 100% Whole Grain Bread and Sandwich Rounds, Healthy
Harvest Pasta, and Ronzoni® Smart Taste Pasta. While leading
teams in the new product development process, he has provided
technical support for manufacturing, trouble shooting, process
optimization, cost reduction, and ingredient development/
optimization.
“I am excited to join the NCI as Director of Technical and
Business Development,” says Hahn. “I was a member of the
NCI pasta course faculty for 10 years, and I experienced how
committed NCI is in developing and improving their training
programs. I have always enjoyed the hospitality and work ethic
NCI Names New Technical Director
David H. Hahn, Ph.D.
of the NCI employees, and I believe NCI has many
opportunities to expand product development,
service and training to support all the crops grown
in the northern region.”
Hahn began his career with Hershey Foods
Corporation where he worked in product
development from 1984 to 1994. He was a Senior
Staff Scientist from 1994 to 1999 for the Pasta &
Grocery Group of Hershey Foods. In 1999, New
World Pasta Company purchased Hershey Pasta
Group, and Hahn became Director of Research
and Technical Service for New World Pasta until
2008. He served as Vice President of R&D
Product Innovation for Flower’s Foods, where he
was responsible for their new product program
from June 2008 to January 2011. Most recently,
Hahn has worked as a consultant for Doherty Food
Advisory, Thomasville, Ga.
Hahn is currently President of the American Association of Cereal
Chemists. He is also an active member of the Institute of Food
Technologists (IFT) and American Society of Baking. Hahn
earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Food Science from A&M University,
College Station, Texas.
Northern Crops Institute is the international center for meeting
and learning about crops produced in the four-state region of
North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana. Situated
on the campus of North Dakota State University, NCI exists as a
forum to bring together customers, commodity traders, technical
experts, processors and producers from all points of the globe
for discussion, education, and technical service programs.
Since 1983, the Institute has hosted visitors from more than 130
countries.
(6) northernpulse.com

NPGA Research Funding Distribution
Each year, the NPGA research committee reviews proposals for the upcoming crop year based on established priorities.
Completed research information can be found on the NPGA website@ www.northernpulse.com.
Distributed Amount for 2013: $325,000.
Project Title:...........On-Farm Pea & Lentil Variety Test in NE Montana
Researcher:............Chengci Chen, MSU
Funded Amount:....$26,380
Project Title:...........Pea, Lentil & Chickpea Breeding
Researcher:............Kevin McPhee, NSDU
Funded Amount:....$132,918
Project Title:...........Evaluation on Greenhouse Inoculation Methods
to Screen Germplasma for Resistance to Fusarium Avenaceum and F.
solanif. sp. pisi.
Researcher:............Julie Pasche, NSDU
Funded Amount:....$21,300
Project Title:...........Identification of Two Resistance genes & Analysis
of the genetic basis of stem strength in a segregating population
Researcher:............Norm Weeden, MSU
Funded Amount:....$17,300
Project Title:...........Evaluation of Fungicides for Management of
Foliar Blights of Lentils
Researcher:............Michael Wunsch, NDSU
Funded Amount:....$20,500
Project Title:...........Improve US Grown Pulse Quality Through
Micronutrient Enrichments: Three -Year Research Program from NDSU
Pulse Quality Program
Researcher:............Dil Thavarajah
Funded Amount:....$49,620
Project Title:...........Enhancing Feed Quality & Pellet Manufacturing
with Pea Starch
Researcher:............Vern Anderson, NDSU
Funded Amount:....$5,000
Project Title:...........Burndown Efficacy, PRE-Grass Control, and
Narrowleaf Hawksbeard Control in Pulse Crops
Researcher:............Brian Jenks, NDSU
Funded Amount:....$10,000
Project Title:...........Evaluation of Fungincides & Fungicide Rotation
Strategies for Manement of Ascochyta Blight in Chickpeas
Researcher:............Michael Wunsch, NDSU
Funded Amount:....$14,000
Project Title:...........Development & Validation of Field, Greenhouse
and Detached Leaf Assay Screening Methods for Ascochyta Lentils
Researcher:............Julie Pasche, NDSU
Funded Amount:....$27,982
pulses are . . .
* low in fat, calories and sodium
* high in fiber, protein and complex carbohydrates
* great for gluten-free, diabetic and vegetarian
diets
Legislative Action Fund
The NPGA is committed to improving and protecting the pulse
industry by providing a strong voice on crucial legislative issues
such as farm program policy, disaster, legislation, crop insurance
and market development.
Contributions to the legislative action fund are used directly
towards lobbing efforts on issues effecting the pulse crop
industry.
Thank you LAF Contributors!
Myron Blumhagen
Larry Monson
Todd Wagner
Steve Miner
Kim Murray
Paul Witteman
We’re not Bigger,
We’re Better!
215 Main St.
Crary, ND 58327
1-866-379-7327
northernpulse.com (7)

A Message from Shannon Berndt,
NPGA Executive Director
I would like to welcome new board members Mark Hardy and Chad Doheny. They officially began their terms following the NPGA
Annual Convention in Minot. We are looking forward to the input and expertise that each of them will bring to the NPGA board of
directors. In addition, I would like to congratulate Beau Anderson on being elected as president of the NPGA. Beau has served on
the NPGA board since 2008 and was elected to the executive committee in 2009. He has served on numerous committees within the
pulse industry on both the regional and national levels.
On March 28, USDA released the prospective plantings report for 2013. While forecasts show lentil acreage decreasing in both
Montana and North Dakota, dry peas showed a nice acreage increase in both states. Chickpeas acreage looks to remain stable for
the region in comparison to 2012 numbers. Excellent attendance at producer meetings throughout the past several months proved to
be a good indicator for an increase in the regions pulse acres.
The NPGA research committee just completed the funding awards for the 2013 crop year. The NPGA received more than $800,000
in research proposals—far exceeding the amount of funding available to distribute. After a full day of deliberations, the research
committee distributed $325,000 to priority research projects. I would like to thank all producers who take the time to complete the
research surveys distributed at our meetings. These surveys are vital in determining the research needs for the region and assist
the committee in making their decisions. I would like to thank Dale Tarum, Jerry Schillinger, Kristian Sorum, Ryan Brooks and John
Raisler for serving on the research committee. The projects and awards for 2013 and years prior are available on the NPGA website.
Lastly, I want to thank Ryan Brooks for his service to the NPGA board, USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council and the pulse industry. Ryan
has served as representative for the NPGA on several boards and Councils including the Northern Crops Institute, SBARE and Ag
Coalition. He has been actively involved in the development of the research programs within the region and has spent many hours at
the ND Legislature lobbying on behalf of the regions pulse industry. He will certainly be missed.
I hope everyone has a safe and prosperous Spring!
Hoff Re-elected to ND Dry Pea &
Lentil Council
Cal Hoff, Richardton, ND was recently elected to his third term
on the ND Dry Pea & Lentil Council. The District II election took
place in Dickinson, March 19th. Hoff currently serves as the
North Dakota Dry Pea & Lentil Chairman and representative to
the USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council.
Hoff operates a cattle and grain farm near Richardton, ND
with his wife Julie and son, Casey.
Pulse Growers on Capitol Hill
The Northern Pulse Growers Association was recently represented
on a USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council mission to
Washington DC February 4-8, 2013. Paul Berntson – Adams,
ND and Chris Westergard, Dagmar, MT, participated in meetings
with Congressional Representatives and key agency
personnel to discuss the pulse industry’s priorities. Being a
farm bill year with a one year extension, the USADPLC mission
focused on concerns for the 2012 Farm Bill.
(8) northernpulse.com

1710 Burnt Boat Drive
Bismarck, ND 58503
Calendar of Events
July 2013 - NPGA Summer Pulse Tours TBA
December, 2013 - NPGA Montana Pulse Day, TBA
January 27-28, 14 - NPGA 21st Annual Convention, Minot
January 29-31, 14 - KMOT Ag Expo, Minot
NPGA Trivia
1. How much money did the NPGA give out in Research
Funding?
2. Who are the NPGA newest board members?
3. How much does an acre with 6 inches of top soil
roughly weigh?
Email answers to rohrich@northernpulse.com, the first
2 people to answer all questions correctly will be sent a
NPGA Sweatshirt and cap! (must be a current NPGA
member.)
Congratulations to last quarters trivia winners:
Cliff Issendorf, Newburg, ND
Steve Szudera, Beach, ND
From Producer to the World
To market your lentils, chickpeas, beans or peas or to discuss growing
pulses, contact United Pulse Trading at 1-877-751-1623.
www.alliancegrain.com www.uspulses.com
Find Alliance Grain Traders Inc. on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AGT.
northernpulse.com (9)