Farmers Finding a Pulse for Their Crops | Video

Evan Kruegel | 2/20/2013

Over 60 percent of the durum wheat grown in the United States is produced right here in North Dakota and Montana, but it`s not the only big producer. Fifty-five percent of the country’s pinto beans; 45 percent of the country’s lentils; 41 percent of the country’s navy beans and 57 percent of the country’s peas are all grown here.

The latter are all pulse crops, which are used as rotational crops between farming cycles of wheat. Not only are they shipped out in huge quantities, but they help the wheat production here as well.

"Not only are they a different type of crop from the wheat and the durum that we typically grow in this area, but they are also a legume crop, which means they have the ability to fix some nitrogen for the following crop. And they also help break up some of the insect and disease cycles that are common with the small grains that have typically been grown in this area,” said NDSU Extension Agent Keith Brown.

Those pulse crops were the focus at today`s MonDak Pulse Day. Roughly 75 producers from across the region came to Williston to take part in the event.

"We`ve got speakers addressing weed control issues in pulse crops, we`ve got speakers addressing disease concerns that can come across with pulse crop production, and we`ve got other speakers who are going to talk about the general production or the physiology of pulse crops and how they respond to the environment. And we`ll also have some market updates to help producers in terms of making plans for the upcoming growing season,” said Brown.

When regional farmers aren`t growing wheat, they`re typically growing pulse crops instead. So while they may not get the same amount of love as durum wheat, they`re critical to the health of agriculture in the region.

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