Montana Farmers Meeting in Great Falls for Joint Convention 

November 30, 2022

The Montana Grain Growers Association's Annual Convention is underway in Great Falls. This year it also includes the Northern Pulse Growers Association and PNW Canola Association. So, lots of discussion around cereal grains, pulses and canola.

Matt McCabe farms near Ekalaka, Mont. and is the Northern Pulse Growers Association's vice president. He explains the importance of these three associations meeting this year jointly here in Great Falls.

"I think it's very important to get these three groups together with cropping systems becoming more and more of a conversation," said McCabe. "There are very few farmers that can make a profit grown only one crop. So I think it's great to get all these different perspectives in one room."

Russell Nemetz interviewed Matt McCabe during the Montana Grain Growers Association Annual Convention in Great Falls, Mont. Western Ag Network's convention coverage sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions.

November 30 is the revenue crop insurance program deadline for pulse growers to report this year's harvest price. He says it's important growers let the USDA know this year's harvest price for crop insurance.

"Absolutely, it's very important to report those numbers," said McCabe. "If we don't send them in to the USDA, they don't know those numbers and we can't get what the real value of our crops for insurance prices."

Like other commodities, he says, research is very important for the overall success of the pulse industry and it's growers. This is why it's such a big priority of the NPGA.

"Every February we have a research review in either Fargo, N.D., Pullman, Wash. or Bozeman, Mont.," said McCabe. "We rotate it around and give out research grants there. I think one of the most important things that NPGA does is fund this research."

He says trade and export markets are also critically important to the U.S. pulse industry.

"It can't be stressed enough how important trade is," said McCabe. "With the COVID pandemic, we lost a lot of our ability to export crops overseas and that's slowly coming back. But it's still certainly been a challenge for our processors."

Thankfully, he says, domestic demand for food products made from pulses is helping to offset the weak export market picture.

"People are more concerned about their overall health and are learning more about healthy foods," said McCabe. "They're finding pulses are a good viable option and something that they can get that was raised right here in the United States."

Source: Western Ag Network