For dry bean growers, farm bill priorities include adequate funding for the pulse crop health initiative and foreign market development. Northarvest Bean Growers Association Executive Director Mitch Coulter says the dollars available for export development need to be adjusted. “It’s been two decades since we’ve seen any kind of change there and we’d really like to see it double,” said Coulter. “I think every commodity group is fully utilizing their funds and we see opportunities that are being missed. If we can get those funds added, that would be helpful for all the commodities in North Dakota and Minnesota.” Coulter was part of the farm bill listening sessions Thursday in Harwood and Grand Forks. The final meeting will be held Tuesday in Jamestown. Seven North Dakota farm groups, including Northarvest, sponsored this series of meetings.
