Congressional Delegation Works to Remove Trade Barriers for Montana Pulse Producers

Senator Jon Tester, Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Ryan Zinke are actively working to resolve regulatory barriers that threaten Montana pulse crop producers’ access to international markets.

The Montana Congressional delegation sent a letter urging Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Department of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker to resolve issues surrounding India’s recent regulatory changes that will negatively affect Montana pulse producers’ ability to export peas, lentils and chickpeas to Indian markets.

“Montana produces more pulse crops than any other state in the nation,” the Montana delegation wrote. “This industry is a rapidly growing and integral aspect of our economy as producers in the state planted over 680,000 acres worth of pulses worth over $100 million in 2014. We request that USDA and Commerce engage with the Indian government to resolve this situation as quickly as possible and provide pulse producers in Montana and across the country the certainty they deserve.”

Pulse crops play an integral role in Montana’s economy:

Montana is the number one pulse producing state in the country.
Montanans planted over 680,000 acres of pulses in 2014, an increase of 38 percent from the previous year. Montana’s pulse crops were valued at $140 million in 2013.