Member Organizations

Several grower and trade organizations contribute funding to the USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council:

ID Commission

The Idaho Pea & Lentil Commission (ID Commission) was established July 1, 1965, to manage the funds collected from the assessment on dry peas, lentils and chickpeas. The seven-person board allocates funding for research, domestic and international marketing, government affairs and education.

WA Commission

The Washington Pulse Crops Commission was created under the Washington State Enabling Act of 1961, and a board was established July 1, 1965, to manage the funds collected from the assessment on dry peas, lentils and chickpeas. The eight-person board allocates funding for research, domestic and international marketing, government affairs and education.

Montana Pulse Crops Committee

Created by a vote of Montana pulse crop producers and funded by a check-off, the Montana Pulse Crops Committee (MPCC) funds research and market development projects to address Montana's pulse industry needs and opportunities.

Nebraska Dry Pea & Lentil Commission

The commission may create general state policies and programs related to the discovery, promotion and development of markets and industries for the utilization of dry peas, lentils, chickpeas or garbanzo beans, faba beans or lupins grown in Nebraska. It also may adopt an education and publicity program, make grants and enter into research contracts.

The commission’s members, who will be appointed by the governor, must be Nebraska residents who are dry pea or lentil growers with at least five years of experience, among other requirements.

North Dakota Dry Pea & Lentil Council

The North Dakota Dry Pea & Lentil Council (NDDPLC) was established in 1997 by growers after legislation was passed to create a check-off on the sale of dry peas and lentils. The NDDPLC board includes five producers from different regions in the state, and it distributes the funds collected from the dry pea and lentil check-off to the Northern Pulse Growers Association (NPGA) and the USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council to support marketing, research, education and promotion of dry peas, lentils and chickpeas.

The NPGA was established July 1, 2006, to represent dry pea, lentil, chickpea, lupin and fava bean growers in North Dakota and Montana. The 10-person board represents seven districts throughout Montana and North Dakota and allocates the funds distributed by the NDDPLC to maintain and improve marketing, research, government affairs and education programs for dry peas, lentils, chickpeas, lupins and fava beans.

Benefits of membership with the NPGA include:

  • Pulse News: publication providing NPGA activity updates, market information and current issues
  • P.L. 480: email subscription for P.L. 480 and market announcements
  • Advocacy: representation on key issues including farm program policy, disaster legislation, crop insurance and market issues
  • Education: NPGA-hosted annual convention and producer meeting and tours

Become a member - visit the NPGA website!

South Dakota Pulse Crops Council

The South Dakota Pulse Growers, Inc. is a grass roots organization formed to encourage better production of field peas, chickpeas, lentils and dry beans in South Dakota.

The organization was formed in 1992 by a handful of South Dakota farmers interested in producing pulse crops.

US Pea & Lentil Trade Association

The US Pea & Lentil Trade Association (USPLTA) was established in 1962 to represent and support processors, warehousemen and sellers of dry peas, lentils and chickpeas. A board of 9 trade members represents the trade industry's interests in a host of different issues including: market access, transportation, export and P.L. 480 programs, grading standards and trade rules.

In addition to representation in the national and international pulse industry, membership in the USPLTA offers the following benefits:

  • Trade Leads: timely market information and exposure to new markets
  • Trade Directory: address book distributed to members and customers
  • Web Listing: contact information published on industry website
  • Pulse Pipeline Newsletter: weekly publication with markets and current issues

Become a USPLTA member - read the Trade Rules (link below) and call for an application. Kim Monk, 208-882-3023.

Membership classifications include voting members (processor, first purchaser/elevator, warehouseman/seed dealer, exporter/dealer, broker/commission agent, finished product processor/food manufacturer) and non-voting members (associate member, associate international firm, retired member, honorary member).

For further membership information, contact Kim Monk at (208) 882-3023 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

USPLTA Convention

Each year, the US Pea & Lentil Trade Association (USPLTA) holds a convention at the end of September. It's the perfect opportunity to get up-to-speed on the latest happenings in the dry pea, lentil and chickpea industry as well as network with other trade members.

Visit the convention website for more information!

Trade Rules

The US Pea & Lentil Trade Association (USPLTA), the membership organization representing the trade portion of the pulse industry, adopted Arbitration Rules (May 15, 1963) and Trade Rules (October 22, 1994) to govern and maintain a consistent business setting in all transactions within the pulse industry. Both sets of rules are reviewed annually at the fall trade convention where amendments are proposed and voted on.

Download the USPLTA trade rules:

Western Pulse Growers' Association

The Western Pulse Growers' Association (WPGA) was established in 1965 by a small group of farmers in eastern Washington and northern Idaho — an area known as the Palouse — to address the needs they saw in the dry pea, lentil and chickpea industry for market development, research and educational programming. That small group of farmers who originally formed the WPGA has grown to more than 500 members today represented by a 22-person board.

Benefits of membership with the WPGA include:

  • Pulse Pipeline Newsletter: weekly publication with markets, current issues and research
  • Statistical Reports: production, planted and harvested acreage, exports and stocks-on-hand
  • P.L. 480 Announcements
  • Web: access to members-only portion of the website: www.usapulses.org/membership
  • Research: improved varieties, disease resistance, crop protection, etc.
  • Representation in Washington D.C. on key issues (Farm Bill programs, pulse crop revenue insurance, market expansion, etc.)
  • Market Development: programming and funding to develop and expand national and international markets

Become a WPGA member ($75 dues annually) - call the office today!

For further membership information, contact Kim Monk at (208) 882-3023 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.