Gordon Stoner’s Pulse Production Pointers

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A pulse-growing wave is sweeping parts of our region.  The first good day for field work saw Gordon Stoner, an Outlook, Montana farmer, seeding peas.  After that, they’ll get lentils in the ground.  As he sat atop a hill overlooking Plentywood, he took the time to give Haylie Shipp his top tips for growing peas and lentils.

1.  As soon as the frost is out of the ground, get going.  

Stoner says that he has pictures of drills working through the snow banks when a late snow has hit.  Get going as soon as you can.

 

2.  Find a market and chat with that merchandiser.
 
Find out whether they’re looking for yellow or green peas.  What variety would they like?  Stoner says that some processors are very specific.  They often want a certain variety or they have no interest.

 

3.  Come harvest, be ready to take them the moment they’re ready to go.

With wheat, Stoner noted that if you start harvest right as the wheat looks ready, you’re likely going to have a bin filled with hot, wet wheat.  That is not the case with peas and lentils.  When it looks ready, you start harvesting.  Otherwise, he warns, the losses can be catastrophic

 

Crops that you do have to monitor somewhat, Stoner says that the payout is possible with peas and lentils.  He adds that a friend has jokingly told him that pulse crops are a real problem.  “You have to build more bins to store all the crop, you’ve got to find another banker to take all your cash, and you have to buy equipment at year end to try and keep Uncle Sam from taking it all,” jests Stoner.

 

 

© Haylie Shipp 2015

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