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US and India agree to lower tariffs on pulse crops

On Thursday, June 22, 2023, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the United States and the Republic of India have agreed to terminate six outstanding disputes at the World Trade Organization. Furthermore, India agreed to remove retaliatory tariffs on certain U.S. ag products, including chickpeas, lentils, almonds, walnuts, and apples, marking a big win for Montana Agriculture.

“These tariff cuts will restore and expand market opportunities for U.S. agricultural producers and manufacturers. The resolution also maintains the integrity of the U.S. Section 232 measures,” stated in a press release from the Office of the U.S Trade Representative.

Montana is currently the number one ranking state in both chickpea and lentil production in the United States. In 2022, Montana produced just over 65% of the nation’s lentils (USDA-NASS). With the export value of U.S. pulses in 2021 reaching $389 million and the current estimate being 120% more due to higher production, this removal of retaliatory tariffs marks a large opportunity for Montana agriculture and its producers.

“Prime Minister Modi’s visit has underscored the importance of the U.S.-India bilateral relationship and our cooperation on a range of shared priorities. Today’s agreement represents the culmination of intensified bilateral engagement over the last two years, including through the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum, to deepen our economic and trade ties,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai. “As a result of our work, U.S. agricultural producers and manufacturers will now enjoy renewed access to a critical global market and we will strengthen our trade relationship with one of our closest partners.”

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Linker, Coffee Creek MT A26, A36

Doane Western of Montana, Bozeman MT C32

Double Diamond Truck & Equipment Sales, Missoula MT

Dry Fork Ag, Ledger MT A31

Exchange Services, Inc, Whitefish MT B10

First State Bank, Shelby, MT A26

Fisher Metal Products, Fort Benton, MT B36

Flaman Rentals, Power MT A16, B14

Fort Benton Realty, Fort Benton MT A34

Fox Ford, Wolf Point MT B35

Frank Merchant Roofing, Great Falls MT C32

Fraser’s Oil Inc., Inverness MT C14

Frieling’s Agricultural Equipment, Great Falls MT A13, B17, C23, C29

Frontier Precision (formally Triange Ag, Great Falls), Bismarck, ND B29

Frontline Ag Solutions Dillon, Dillon MT C11

Frontline Ag Solutions, Choteau, Conrad, Cut Bank, Dillon, Lewistown, Havre, Chester, Great Falls, Belgrade, Livingston MT C6, C7

Glass Trucking, Denton MT B33

Glasgow Rental, Glasgow MT A35

Golden Harvest Seeds, Big Sandy MT A16

Golden Triangle Rental, Great Falls MT A35

Gordon Repair, LLC, Miles City MT C26

Greenway Seeds, Caldwell ID B7

Greyn Fertilizer, Choteau, Dutton, Valier MT C36

Grossenburg Equipment, Winner, Pierre, Philip, Belle Fourche SD, Wayne, Bloomfield, Harrington NE, Sundance WY A21

Harris Custom Swathing, Conrad MT C4

Heartland Seed Company, Moccasin MT A2

Hedman, Inc, Grass Range MT A25

Helfert’s Helena Farm Supply, East Helena MT C3

Henke Enterprises, SprayFlex & Big Dog Mowers, Chester MT C34

Henry Building Systems, Pelican Rapids MNC22

Hi-Line Rental, Havre MT A35

Highline Communications, Cut Bank MT B22

Hillco Technologies, Inc. Nezperce, ID A24

Hoven Equipment Co., Great Falls MT A19

Hwy 12 Equipment & Repair, Baker MT C26

J & T Equipment Sales, John Jones, Stevensville MT C16

J Bar T Bins & Steel Buildings, Jeremiah Johnson & Thad, Chester MT B32

Jamieson Motors, Inc., Chinook MT B14, C24

Jim Nielsen Trucks & Parts, Butte MT B28

Joe Judisch Custom Swathing & Baling, Conrad MT A20

Johnsen Trailer Sales, Inc., Bismarck & Fargo ND B28

Jr’s Harvesting, Inc., Eureke, SD A31

Krogmann Mfg. C10

Lane Judisch Swathing, Conrad MT A24

Lattin & Sons, Power MT A16, B14

Lewistown Polaris, Lewistown MT B21

Lewistown Rental, Lewistown MT A35

M & M Auto, Trailers, & Welding, Stevensville MT B10

M & W Machine, Three Forks MT B31

Mahindra, Big Sky Harley, Great Falls MT A36

Montana Ag Safety Program B36

Montana Department of Agriculture A11

Montana Farrier Supply, Livingston MT B35

Montana Fence, Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell MT B6, C8, C22

Montana Fiberglass Inc, Lewistown MT B20

Montana Holster & Shoulder Rig, Norm Scherten- lieb, Great Falls MT B36

Montana Metal Fabrications, Great Falls MT C10

Montana Seed Trade Association A20

Montech Seed Group, MT B2

Mountain View Metal Works, Wilsall MT C15

MQS, Montana Quality Structures, Stevensville MT B5

MT Tractors, Matt Pendergast, Stevensville MT A14

Musselshell Valley Equipment, Roundup MT A33, C1

New Homes of the Future, Billings MT B22

NM Machinery, Missoula MT B33

North Star Equipment, John Myers, Simms MT C25

Northern Ford, Cut Bank MT B9

Northern Prairie Auto Sales, Wolf Point MT B4

Opportunity Bank A15

Pete’s Auto Sales, Great Falls MT B13

Platinum Auto Center, Big

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How can seed enhancement effect the viability of and vigor of seeds?

We often take seeds for granted. We expect that we can plant them, they will grow, and produce a crop – or flower bed if that’s your goal. But seeds don’t always germinate. And if they do, the plant might not grow as expected. The May 22nd Sustainable, Secure Food Blog looked at work being done by Erik Augerson, Oregon State University, to improve hemp crops by studying ways to improve seed vigor and viability.CBD hemp seeds that sprouted 3 days after soaking in biostimulants

Viability is defined as the seed’s ability to germinate and begin growth. This of course assumes they are given the proper environment. The environment in which the seed is planted plays a large role in its ability to germinate.

In some cases, a seed can be viable yet still not germinate when planted. This is often caused by the seed being stuck in a state of dormancy. In the case of dormant seed, certain environmental or physical conditions must be met to trigger germination. For example, many seeds must go through a chilling period prior to sowing to come out of dormancy.

Seed vigor refers to the ability of the seeds to quickly produce consistent, healthy plant growth under a wide range of environmental conditions.

Augerson looked at using “seed enhancements” to improve the vigor and viability of hemp seeds. Typically, seed enhancements will not increase seedling viability, but they can improve the percent of seeds germinating as well as their vigor. In general, the goal of seed enhancement is to improve the crop producer’s chances of having good establishment and a healthy crop.

Treating seed with products prior to planting can potentially save the producer time and money. The alternative is a grower applying the product across their entire field after planting. This would mean two passes through the field. So, treating seeds prior to planting makes sense.

Additionally, by treating the seed we ensure that the product added is in contact with the seed/seedling once it germinates. When spread across the field there are many variables that can prevent the treatment from contacting the seed – like rainfall, soil conditions and wind.

Multiple commercial examples of seed treatment exist; however, two common examples are seed priming and seed coating.

Seed priming typically involves soaking seed in a solution, water or a chemical, for a specific time. They are then taken out of the solution just prior to germination. The seeds can then be sown in the field. The goal of doing this generally is to increase the speed or uniformity of seed germination once the seed is planted in the field.

Seed coating, as the name suggests, involves coating a seed prior to its planting with a dry or liquid product. Many crops are sold with seed coatings that contain pesticides, or plant growth products.

Historically conventional plant growth products such as chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides have been marketed and used in both seed priming and in seed coatings. However, there is growing interest in producing solutions using certified organic products.

A new category of products being looked at as a potential seed treatment option are biostimulants, specifically humic substances. Biostimulants is a category of products that was defined in the USDA farm bill as “substances or microorganisms that, when applied to seeds, plants, or the root zone, stimulates natural processes to enhance or benefit nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, or crop quality and yield.”

Humic substances are complex organic compounds found in soil and other natural sources. Humic substances, specifically humic acid and fulvic acids, have been shown to have biostimulant properties. These include improving seed germination, root, and shoot growth on multiple crops.

However, their effects on hemp (cannabis) seed are undocumented. The goal was to test if soaking seed prior to planting in biostimulants, specifically certified organic humic and fulvic acids solutions, would influence seed germination and seedling vigor on two varieties of CBD Hemp.

The reason that CBD hemp was chosen, in addition to being a new and interesting area of research, is that hemp grown for CBD is traditionally grown at lower plant densities than most other annual crops. Because of this it is important that good germination occurs.

The cost of hemp seed also can be extremely expensive, CONTINUED ON PAGE B4

Hannah Monroe