If you’re a pulse crop grower in Nebraska, your feedback is being sought on how the industry might be represented and collectively promoted. One option being discussed is a Pulse Crops Checkoff program for Nebraska.

Extension Educator Strahinja Stepanovic has developed a survey to gather grower feedback and has written a letter to producers describing the survey and current state of field pea, lentil, and chickpea production in Nebraska. It also includes information on the National Pulse Crops Coalition, a group administrated by the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council /American Pulse Association, who is supporting development of a checkoff in Nebraska.

Initiating a checkoff program could open the door to revenue-based pulse crop insurance, Stepanovic said. 

“Revenue-based crop insurance provides financial security to lenders and to producers investing in a higher value crop like chickpeas in times of uncertain prices,” notes a flyer from the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council.

In 2017 combined field pea, lentil, and chickpea acreage increased to approximately 80,000 acres in Nebraska. In 2018 university researchers expanded their efforts to study pulse crop production in eastern as well as western Nebraska to develop recommendations relative to both cropping environments. (See Field Pea Planting and Production Resources.)

Stepanovic notes that “Nebraska Extension in Perkins County is willing to provide an unbiased platform for discussing the costs and benefits of a Pulse Crops Checkoff.”

If you grow pulse crops in Nebraska and would like more information or would like to get a survey, contact Stepanovic at sstepanovic2@unl.edu or call the Extension Office in Perkins County at 308-352-4340.