| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Lee Boyer |
| August 25, 2006 | (406) 444-2402 |
Rules Proposed for Pulse Research & Marketing Program
HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Department of Agriculture has published proposed administrative rules for the Pulse Crop Research and Market Development Program created after a statewide vote of dry pea, lentil, chickpea and fava bean growers.
A six-member Montana Pulse Crop Advisory Committee has been appointed to advise the department director regarding the program, which under the proposed rules will be funded by a 1 percent assessment on the net receipts of pulse crops produced in Montana. At their initial meeting in March, the advisory committee selected Kim Murray of Froid to chair the group. Mike Greytak of Billings serves as vice chair.
Pulse growers voted in December 2005 to establish a research and marketing program under a process outlined in the state Agricultural Commodity Research and Market Development Enabling Act. Similar programs have been established by Montana cherry and potato producers. Growers pay a fee from initial crop sales to support the program, which the Montana Department of Agriculture administers.
Copies of the proposed rules can be obtained from the department's website at: http://agr.mt.gov/reference/administrativeRules.asp.
Comments on the proposed rules can be directed to Joel A. Clairmont, Montana Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 200201, Helena, MT 59620-0201, by fax at (406) 444-5409; or by e-mail at agr@mt.gov. To be considered, comments must be received by the department no later than September 21, 2006.
For more information on the Pulse Crop Research and Market Development Program, contact Lee Boyer, Rural Development Bureau chief at the Montana Department of Agriculture at (406) 444-2402 or by e-mail at agr@mt.gov.
