| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Lee Boyer |
| Sept. 2, 2005 | (406) 444-2402 TTY (406) 444-4687 |
Pulse Growers to Discuss Research & Marketing Program
HELENA, Mont. — Montana growers of peas, lentils and chickpeas are invited to a hearing on Friday, September 9, 2005, in Glasgow to discuss creation of a commodity research and market development program funded by grower fees.
The hearing will be held at 9 a.m. at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow, and will be hosted by the Montana Department of Agriculture. Lee Boyer, chief of the department's Rural Development Bureau, will attend the meeting to explain the process required to implement a grower-funded "check off" program.
Production of dry edible peas in 2004 was 1.3 million hundredweight, or three times as large as the prior year's crop. Production of garbanzo beans and lentils also has been increasing in Montana.
A petition containing 50 names was presented to the department to initiate the process. "This is an opportunity to express support or opposition to the proposal," Boyer says.
In 2002, Montana potato growers created such a program under a state law that enables commodity groups to petition the department and vote to establish self-funded research and marketing programs. Cherry growers enacted a similar program earlier this year.
After considering the facts and information received at the hearing, the department may hold a referendum of affected growers and producers. To be eligible to vote, producers of pulse crops must be Montana residents and at least 18 years old.
For more information about the meeting, contact Boyer at (406) 444-2402, or by e-mail at agr@mt.gov.
The meeting is open to the public. The Montana
Department of Agriculture will attempt to provide
reasonable accommodations for any known disability
that may interfere with a person participating in
any activity of the department.
