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Dear Readers -
Legumes are the hot topic this growing season. More and more farmers are raising the crop - making the Mon-Dak region the largest producer of peas and lentils in the United States. Legumes are just one of the crops that will be featured at the Mon-Dak Ag Open August 3-5. The entire agenda is available in this issue. We hope to see you there!
Barbara Peterson
Writer, Williston Wire
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| United Pulse Undergoes Major Upgrades | |
Williston Economic Development
by Barb Peterson
 Oil isn't the only industry booming in the MonDak region - so is the business of growing legumes. The area is the largest producer of dry peas, lentils and chickpeas in the United States. "It has really snowballed," says Brion Norby, Williston Operations Manager of United Pulse Trading. What started as a way to enhance durum and wheat crops - has turned into an important crop in its own right. "I consider Williston the epicenter of pulse crops in the United States," says Eric Bartsch, General Manager of United Pulse Trading. "Right in the Williston area we grow 65-75% of the pulse crops in the US." See Entire Story. | |
| Lentils 'Really Big' for Producers Across the Region | |
Farm & Ranch Guide
 In all regions, more producers are putting in lentils this year, said Bryan Schatz, the eastern representative for Pulse USA. He said there are forage green peas grown in Minnesota for livestock, dairy and hog feed mixes. But for food, mostly yellow peas are grown in the eastern regions. "DS-Admiral yellow peas are a very good pea," he said, adding this type of pea is highly desired by processors. Schatz said many producers had good results from their cover crop mixes last year, especially with the Pulse USA grazer mixer. See Entire Story.
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| ND Expects Record Lentil Crop | |
Agweek
 Lentil acreage in North Dakota is expected to set a record for the second consecutive year. The Agriculture Department recently pegged the crop at 240,000 acres, up from 165,000 acres last year. In 1998, when lentil acres were first tracked, only 22,000 were planted in North Dakota. This year's dry edible pea crop in North Dakota is projected to be unchanged from last year, at 490,000 acres. The state record high was set in 2006 at 610,000 acres. | |
| New Products Could Create More Demand for Pulse Crops | |
Williston Economic Development
by Barb Peterson
 Peas and lentils provide such an excellent and low cost source of protein and fiber that they could end up in new products in the US. Brion Norby, Operations Manager for United Pulse Trading in Williston, says researchers are examining ways to add lentil or yellow pea flour to different foods to enhance their nutritional value. See Entire Story. | |
| New Pea Protein Process Aims to Grow Market | |
Food Navigator
Roquette has optimised the production process for its Nutralys pea protein to enable higher levels to be used without affecting taste. It expects the breakthrough to bring considerable new market opportunities. See Entire Story. | |
| High Amylose Leads to More Flexible Native Pea Starch | |
Food Navigator
Better thickening, gelling and film-forming properties than other starches thanks to a high amylose content are the benefits claimed for the native pea starch from food ingredients company American Key Products. See Entire Story. | |
| A Fresh Take on Chickpeas - Fresh Chickpeas | |
AP
 Move over edamame? Fresh garbanzos - the moist, raw version of a legume usually dried, canned or turned into hummus - may just be the new "new" thing. Garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas, generally ripen on the plant into the shriveled, beige pebbles most people are familiar with. But fresh chickpeas, which are picked in their infancy, are green and encased in thin, pliant pods, much like edamame (soybeans in their shells.) | |
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How Dakota Growers Pasta Came to be Sold | |
Bismarck Tribune
 Dakota Growers Pasta was sold with little fanfare or criticism this past May in a deal worth about $240 million. Bill Patrie, director of an organization that promotes and helps the development of cooperatives, said he thinks most people involved with the company are satisfied with the sale. "They're not thinking of the next generation," he said, describing farmers as having a "Take the money and run" attitude about the sale. See Entire Story.
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| The New Pastas: Healtier, Better - But Rarely Both | |
Time Magazine
 Today we are seeing a new wave of pastas, some of which claim to be good for you and others that, while no healthier than before, boast finer quality (at a commensurately higher price). See Entire Story.
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ND Spring Wheat Crop is Expected to be 3 Percent Smaller |
Agweek
 North Dakota's spring wheat crop is expected to be about 3 percent smaller than last year's. The Agriculture Department recently pegged the state's crop at 282 million bushels, down from 290 million last year. The expected average yield of 43 bushels per acre is down 3 bushels from last year's record. North Dakota durum wheat production is forecast at 61.3 million bushels, down just 20,000 bushels from last year. The expected average yield of 35 bushels per acre is 4 bushels below last year's record. State winter wheat production is forecast at 17.3 million bushels, down 34 percent from last year's record. The expected North Dakota barley crop of 49.8 million bushels is down 37 percent, and the projected oat crop of 9.1 million bushels is down 19 percent.
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ND Potato Crop up 8 Percent | |
Agweek
 North Dakota's potato crop is estimated at 90,000 acres, up 8 percent from last year. The Agriculture Department on Friday projected area for harvest at 84,000 acres, a 12 percent increase from 2009. Potato planting in the state was wrapped up by May 30, two weeks ahead of the five-year average. Russets account for slightly more than half of the total acreage. Nationwide, the potato crop is pegged at 896,100 acres, down 4 percent. |
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Food Sector Helps Bring Corrugated Board Sales Back to Pre-Recession Levels | |
Food Production Daily
Corrugated board manufacturers have reported that packaging volumes are returning to pre-recession levels, thanks in a large part to the stability of the food sector. See Entire Story. |
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ND Dairy Business Getting Milked Dry | |
Bismarck Tribune
 In the midst of what have been good years in agriculture this decade, the dairy business in North Dakota has nearly nose-dived. The number of dairy cows in the state is down 60 percent in the past 10 years alone, going from about 50,000 in 2000 to only 21,000 milking cows in April 2010, falling 4,000 in just the past year, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report. That's a far cry from the 700,000 dairy cows found in the state in 1934, according to USDA |
| Wind-to-Fertilizer Plant is a No Brainer | |
AP
 The winds sweeping across the Northern Plains could soon help farmers fertilize their crops of corn, wheat and sorghum. Minnesota researchers have designed a $3.75 million carbon-free system that uses wind power from a towering turbine to produce anhydrous ammonia, a common nitrogen-based fertilizer. It's a perfect supply-and-demand match, as the region has no shortage of wind and U.S. farmers use millions of tons of fertilizer, said Michael Reese, director of the | |
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New Energy Economics: NDSU and Energy Beet Partners Receive $330,000 Grant | |
NDSU Extension Service
By Cole Gustafson, Biofuels Economist
For the past two years, I have been working in partnership with Green Vision Group and Heartland Renewable Energy (HRE) to create an energy beet for the biofuel industry in North Dakota. Last year, an economic feasibility study of the project was completed and funding for yield trials at the Carrington Research Extension Center was obtained. To move the project forward in 2010, I developed a $330,000 grant proposal that was submitted and recently approved by North Dakota's Renewable Energy Council (REC). The grant proposal requested $165,000 directly from the REC, with the remaining funds coming from a variety of private supporters. See Entire Story.
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Williston and Sidney Research Centers Prepare for Construction |
Williston Economic Development
by Barb Peterson
The NDSU Williston Research Extension Center (WREC) and the MSU Eastern Agricultural Research Center (EARC) in Sidney are expanding this summer. The Ernie French Center is adding a $1.68 million building to accommodate more staff, labs and meeting rooms. "There will be 5-6 new offices, three labs and a seed cleaning and handling facility," says Chet Hill, WREC Agricultural Diversification. See Entire Story.
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Williston Research Extension Center to hold Field Day July 15 |
Press Release
 The annual field day will be held Thursday, July 15, at the North Dakota State University Williston Research Extension Center. The day begins with coffee at 8:30 a.m. Jerry Bergman, WREC director; Neil Riveland, assistant director; and staff will be in charge of the tours. The crops tour will begin at 9:20 a.m. NDSU research and Extension specialists will lead discussions on new varieties of barley, wheat, durum and oats. Click Here for Field Day Agenda. |
| MonDak Area Stockgrowers to Hold Cattle Crawl July 18 | |
Sidney Herald
Feel like a day of great food and great company while supporting the beef industry? Then the third annual Cattle Crawl, presented by the MonDak Area Stockgrowers, is the place for you July 18. The Cattle Crawl will feature stops at four local restaurants, offering beef entrees and featuring wine, to encourage residents to "eat beef." See Entire Story. | |
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MSU Eastern Agricultural Research Center to hold Field Day July 28 |
Press Release
 The annual Field Day at the Eastern Agricultural Research Center in Sidney is July 28. Coffee is at 8:30 a.m. The field tour will begin at 9 a.m. Montana State University, North Dakota State University and USDA-ARS research staff, extension specialists, cooperating farmers and industry representative will lead the discussions. Click Here for Field Day Agenda.
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Williston Research Extension Center Gears up for Irrigation Tour July 29 |
NDSU Williston Research Extension Center
The Williston Research Extension Center is gearing up for its annual Irrigation Field Tour on Thursday, July 29th. The tour will begin at 9 a.m. at the Nesson Valley Research/Demonstration farm. Click Here for WREC Irrigation Tour Agenda!
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Mon-Dak Ag Open August 3-5 | |
Williston Economic Development
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LeAnn Rimes to Perform at Richland County Fair August 7 | |
Richland County Fair and Rodeo
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Upcoming Williston Events |
07/15 Virgil Syverson Performance Center - Harmon Park
Williston State College / City Band performing. Korner Lions serving hamburgers beginning at 6:30 p.m. - Concert at 7:30 p.m.
07/15 M-T Saddle Club - Fun Frolics
Visit www.mtsaddleclub.com for full schedule Fun Frolics include: Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, Keyhole, Western Pleasure, and a fun event. Children to Adult horse activities.
07/17 Coyote Wrestling Club Golf Tournament
Contact Chuck Rossol at 570-4441 for more information.
07/17 Select Ford 2nd Annual Fun Run
Classic Car Fun Run beginning at Select Ford, Williston. Setup: 8-9am Showing: 9-11am Stops at State line, Fairview, Sidney, Alexander and finishing at Select Ford. Contact Tammy at 577-2142 for more information.
07/17 Confluence Quilters
The Confluence Quilters will meet at the Missouri Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. For more information, contact the Interpretive Center at 572-9034.
07/17 - 07/18 Williston Basin Modelers Fun Fly
Airplanes, Helicopters and all safe flying stlyes welcome! Free to general public. Pilots registration beginning at 9 am, meeting at 10am on Saturday.
Located appoximately 4 miles north of Williston on highway 2 & 85, just north of A1 Auto Parts (east side of road).
07/17 Annual Katie Keogh Memorial Tennis Tournament
Williston Tennis Assoc. & Williston Parks and Rec are hosting this tournament at the Tom & Shirley Davidson Tennis Complex. For youth and adult players and all levels. Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Singles. Register by July 12 at Williston Parks and Rec.
07/18 Good Old Fashioned Trunk Show
A Trunk Show featurng the quilts of Valerie Boman will be presented at the James Memorial Art Center, 621 1st. Ave. West, Williston, ND on Sunday, July 18 at 3:00 PM CT. Valerie will be judging quilts at the North Dakota State fair this year and is bringing her extensive collection of quilts which she has designed and made over 20 years of quilting.
07/18 Mercy Auxiliary Garden Tour
Mercy Auxiliary Annual Garden Tour from 1-5pm. Pick up maps at First Lutheran Church. Contact Carol at 572-7434 or Meri Jo at 572-7023 for more information.
07/19 - 09/20 WCCU Farmer's Market
Mondays beginning at 7 a.m. in the Western Cooperative Credit Union's main branch parking lot. Produce, baked goods, jams, jellies and pickled items. Contact Judy Billehus at 572-4000 for more information. | |
To see a full list of events, please visit the
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Williston Wire
Williston Wire
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The Mon-Dak Ag Open is right around the corner. The event will feature three exciting days of golf or fishing, educational workshops and crop tours. 
LeAnn Rimes will headine the Richland County Fair & Rodeo in Sidney this year. The fair is scheduled August 4-7. Rimes will perform Saturday, August 7th, at 8 p.m. To purchase your tickets, stop by the fair office or call 406-433-2801. 