Serving Montana Agriculture and growing prosperity under the Big Sky

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Montana Pulse Crop Committee Meeting Notice

  • Logan Kruse
  • February 25 2026

CONTACT:
Liz Edmundson, Montana Pulse Crop Committee, (406) 438-7570
Dani Jones, Montana Department of Agriculture, (406) 444-2402

 

Montana Pulse Crop Committee Meeting Notice: March 2 – 3, 2026

 

BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Montana Pulse Crop Committee (MPCC) will meet March 2 – 3, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in Bozeman, Montana. The board is set to review financials, hear proposals, and address general updates.

Meetings on Monday will take place at the Montana State University Bioscience Building, Room 145. Tuesday meetings will take place at the Courtyard by Marriot Bozeman in the Headwaters Room. The option to join remotely will be available via Zoom.

To request information to join the meeting remotely, please email Dani Jones at danielle.jones@mt.gov.

The Montana Pulse Crop Committee’s mission is to invest in and deliver support for marketing, research, education, and policy development programming that improves return on investment for the pulse producers of Montana.

To view an agenda for the meeting please see below. To learn more about the committee, visit the department’s website at agr.mt.gov.

The Montana Department of Agriculture is serving Montana Agriculture and growing prosperity under the Big Sky. For more information on department programs and services, visit agr.mt.gov.

 

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AGENDA

Date: Monday, March 2, 2026

Location: MSU Animal Bioscience Building, room 145

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Yf3AUQP4esB76nWs8

Time: 9:00 AM MST

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/93415658345?pwd=UoN2Rbr9WbLV9xXaUDwAK6qPcTf8Ya.1

9:00 AM - Call to Order

  • Welcome and Introductions, Led by Chair Brian Aklestad
  • Agenda Approval
  • Public Comment Review and Approval
    • December 2025 Minutes
  • Financials through January 2026 presented by Kari Hahn, Montana Dept of AG
    • Updated Travel Budget $22,500.00
    • Estimated funds by YE June 2026
    • Refund list in packet

10:00 AM - Old Business

  • Decision on Sponsorships Funding Categorization, as advised by MDA
  • USA Pulses subcommittee appointments or MPCC & NPGA-Board Discussion & Input

10:30 AM - New Business

  • MDA Update from Director Jillien Streit

15 Min Break and Refreshments

Proposals

  • 11:00 MSU, presented by Frankie Crutcher, $107,727.00
    • A pulse crop pest and disease survey program for Montana
  • 11:20 MSU, presented by Eeusha Nafi, $9,288.40
    • Supporting Pulse Producers through Regional Extension Workshops
  • 11:40 REAL MT, presented by Tara Becken, $7,500.00
    • Class VII Program Support
  • 12:00 National Genotyping Center, presented by Megan O’Neill $25,000.00
    • Strengthening Montana Seed Certification Though Genotyping Services
  • 12:20 HOLA MT, presented by Weston Merrill $254,565.00
    • Branded Marketing for Montana Pulse Crops in Latin America

12:45 Lunch

1:30 MSU President Brock Tessman Introduction and Updates

  • 2:00 NPGA, presented by Shannon Berndt $432,607.00
    • Optimizing the Bottom Line: Targeted Programming for Montana Pulse Producers
  • 2:30 USA Pulses, presented Tim McGreevy $2,500,000.00
    • Supporting Montana Pulse Growers Through Strategic Market Development, Research, and Policy Development
  • 3:00 Sophia Seffrood MSU Update & Extension Request
    • Equipping MT Pulse Stakeholders with Mkt Readiness Skills for Extruded Food & Feed Products
  • 3:15 Wan-Yuan Kuo Update
    • Assessing Taiwan's market potential for lentils and their value-added products
  • 3:30 MGGA-MPCC Executive, by Liz Edmundson (support by Alison Vergeront MGGA) $171,840.00
    • Executive Director Update & Proposal

USA Pulses Subcommittee Reports in packet for viewing

  • 4 to 5 PM Time to Review Proposals, Ask Questions, Discuss and fill out rubric

 

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Location: Courtyard by Marriott Bozeman (Headwaters Room) 2168 Boot Hill Court, Bozeman, MT 59715

8:30 Breakfast with Unwaffle (tentative)

Time: 9:00 AM MST

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/92662341820?pwd=F3hjlfxO66fWraRwm9K8RNDdQOygb2.1

9:00 AM - Call to Order

  • Welcome and Introductions, Led by Chair Brian Aklestad

9:30 PM New Business

  • Funding Decisions
  • Rubric Discussion
  • Vote of Proposals

12:30 PM Upcoming Travel Approval & Adjournment

  • (Lunch Pickle Barrel Delivery)

Tags: Montana Pulse Crop Committee, MPCC and Public Meeting