Local Growers Urged to Vote in Dry Pea Council Election

The election for Stutsman County’s representative to the North Dakota Dry Pea and Lentil Council will take place at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, at the Jamestown Civic Center, 212 3rd Ave. NE, during the annual Winter Ag Show. Local growers of dry peas, lentils, lupins, fava beans and chickpeas are being encouraged to participate in selecting who will represent their interests on the council.

Any person who qualifies as a participating producer under Chapter 4.1-07 of the Dry Pea and Lentil Council Act may both vote and run as a candidate. The election will be conducted under the supervision of Ashley Kjellberg, Extension agent with NDSU Extension in Stutsman County. Elections held during the Winter Ag Show are intended to provide convenient access for area producers who are already attending the event.

The North Dakota Dry Pea and Lentil Council, created by the Legislature in 1997, meets regularly to implement research, education and promotion programs for pulse crops. Those programs can influence longer-term trends in crop performance and market development. Council decisions help determine which research projects receive funding, the focus of extension outreach and promotional efforts that can expand demand for pulse crops domestically and abroad.

For Stutsman County growers, representation on the council matters because local priorities for variety testing, disease management, agronomic practices and marketing support are shaped by producer-elected members. Effective council representation can direct resources toward challenges growers face here, from improving yields to accessing new markets. Conversely, low turnout or limited candidate participation can reduce the county’s influence in shaping statewide priorities that have direct economic impacts on producers.

Market conditions for pulses have fluctuated in recent years with shifting export demand and input costs, making coordinated research and promotion an important tool for stabilizing and expanding opportunities. The council’s work in research and promotion is a lever for adapting to those market pressures by supporting innovations that can lower costs or improve marketability.

Producers planning to attend the Winter Ag Show should note the date and time for the county election and confirm eligibility under the statute. The outcome will determine who carries Stutsman County’s voice to council discussions that affect research agendas, extension programming and promotion efforts for pulse crops across North Dakota.