The thirteenth annual MonDak Pulse Day will be held on Wednesday, February 20 at the Airport International Inn in Williston starting with registration at 8:30 am CST. Researchers and extension personnel along with representatives from grower groups and private industry will discuss the latest recommendations on the production, marketing and utilization of pulse crops. Pulse crops produced in this area would include field peas, lentils and chickpeas.
One of the featured speakers for this year’s Pulse Day will be Dr. Rosalind Bueckert. Dr. Bueckert is a Professor at the University of Saskatchewan in the Plant Science Department.
Dr. Bueckert’s topic of discussion is using pulse crop physiology to drive yield. As part of her research program, Dr. Bueckert is investigating whole plant and field responses of crops, particularly pulse crops, to nutrient, water and weather. In her research, she is working to understand and improve yield formation in pulse crops in a warming climate and also to investigate and improve nitrogen fixation in pulse crops. One of the expected outcomes is to characterize the yield response of pea and lentil to temperature and rainfall, and to predict sensitive growth stages and yield response when certain weather occurs during specific stages.
Other production-related topics to be discussed at the workshop include pulse crop desiccation and weed control, diseases and management, dry bean production and soil quality and health.
Speakers leading these discussions include Chris Augustin, area soil health specialist with the NDSU Extension Service at the North Central Research Extension Center; Brian Jenks, weed scientist at the NDSU North Central Research Extension Center; Greg Endres, area agronomy specialist with the NDSU Extension Service at the Carrington Research Extension Center; and Michael Wunsch, plant pathologist at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center.
An update on the pulse crop industry will provided by Shannon Berndt, executive director, or Kaye Effertz, marketing director, with the Northern Pulse Growers Association.
Wrapping up the program will be a processors panel discussing pulse crop production, handling issues, industry specifications and the market outlook for pulse crops.
Noon lunch will be served by the Airport International Inn and is being sponsored by the Northern Pulse Growers Association. The registration fee, payable at the door, is $20.00 per person and provides participants with a copy of the Pulse Day proceedings.
A trade show will be held in conjunction with the program and producers will be able to visit with industry representatives at various times during the day. The program has also been approved for pesticide certification points for Montana producers and commercial applicators.
The MonDak Pulse Day is open to the public and was organized by NDSU & MSU Extension Agents in northeastern Montana and northwestern North Dakota. For more information, please contact the Williston Research Extension Center at 701-774-4315 or any of the local county extension offices in northeastern Montana or northwestern North Dakota. The complete program for Pulse Day is available on the Williston Research Extension Center’s web site at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/willisto/.
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