MPCC announces $3.5 million in checkoff distribution
The Montana Pulse Crop Committee, Great Falls, has announced the distribution of more than $3.5 million in checkoff funds for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
These strategic investments will be used to fuel innovation, marketing and education efforts that benefit pulse growers across the state, the MPCC committee said.
The table below outlines allocations by recipient, sorted by funding amount:
USA Pulses – Research $908,988
USA Pulses – Marketing $850,000
USA Pulses – Education $377,000
Dept of Ag – Admin Support $221,211
Dept of Ag – HOLA Montana $175,000
MSU Foundation Seed Combine $150,000
MSU Eastern Ag Research Center $141,710
MGGA – Executive Director $127,500
NPGA – Education $125,000
NPGA – Marketing $125,000
NPGA – Research $100,000
USA Pulses – Nat. Institute of Food and Ag $100,000
MSU Food Product Dev Lab $87,723
MSU Foundation Seed Varietal Education $55,000
Real MT Foundation $5,000
USA Pulses is a national coalition that promotes the production, consumption, and global trade of United States-grown pulse crops—dry peas, lentils, chickpeas—and the money allocated to them will USA Pulses is a national coalition that promotes the production, consumption, and global trade of U.S.-grown pulse crops—dry peas, lentils, chickpeas—and the money allocated to them will fund research, marketing, policy advocacy, and strategic partnerships.
Funds invested in the Northern Pulse Growers Association support Montana farmers by providing on-the-ground agronomic assistance, organizing educational events, and promoting pulse crops in key domestic and international markets. And funds distributed to the Montana Department of Agriculture provide administrative support for the Montana pulse checkoff program and are an investment in the Hola Montana program, which promotes Montana pulses in a growing Latin American.
“These funds are used by Montana farmers investing in themselves,” said MPCC Executive Director Liz Edmundson. “When growers deliver their crops, they also deliver dollars into a program that funds better seed, stronger markets, and better production practices to improve future crops.”
Montana’s pulse crop checkoff program was established to support the success of pulse growers through three primary focus areas:
- Research and innovation—including seed genetics, disease resistance, and production challenges.
- Marketing and market access—both domestic and international, to expand demand and improve prices.
- Education and communication—sharing research, agronomy tips, and market trends with growers.
A mandatory assessment of 1% of net receipts is collected when pulse crops are sold in Montana. These funds are reinvested to improve crop quality, support research institutions, fund new product development, and build stronger markets for dry peas, lentils and chickpeas.
Montana leads the nation in pulse crop production. Last year Montana farmers harvested more than 1.1 million acres of pulse crops, including dry edible peas that alone were valued at nearly $146 million.
“In a competitive global market, we can’t afford to wait for someone else to promote Montana-grown pulses,” Edmundson said. “This is farmer-led, farmer-funded work that strengthens rural communities and ensures quality nutrition.”
About MPCC
The Montana Pulse Crop Committee is a state checkoff agency established in 2017. Led by Montana farmers, MPCC invests in marketing, education and research to build profitability and long-term success for the state’s pulse industry.
MPCC is supported by the Montana Department of Agriculture and works in close partnership with organizations such as USA Pulses and the Northern Pulse Growers Association.
For more information, visit www.mtpulses.org.
