Greetings, and welcome to NBGA's September 2026 newsletter!

September means that we are now entering bean harvest season. Due to weather conditions, planting was spread out this season. So, although some farmers may have begun harvest, other fields still need more time. No matter what stage of the growing season you are in, Northarvest wants to sincerely thank all our dry bean growers for their hard work to produce such an important and nutritious crop: dry beans! And to everyone - whether you grow beans or not - thank you for supporting our growers by eating these delicious beans!

In this newsletter, you will find updates about recent NBGA activities, a link to a brand new resource from The Bean Institute titled The Bean Table, bean recipe inspiration perfect for fall, and more. Plus, be sure to check the Announcements section for information on how to get a free soybean cyst nematode testing kit.

If you can, please consider sharing this newsletter with someone else to help us spread the word. Anyone can subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter here.

Happy reading, and we wish everyone a safe and productive harvest season!

Meeting with the North Dakota Trade Office - read more in the Northarvest in the News and on the Move section of this newsletter

September 2026 Newsletter Table of Contents:

• USDA Weekly Dry Bean Market Review
• Bean Institute: Bean-Forward Dishes for Fall
• Bean Nutrition Corner: The Bean Table
• Northarvest in the News and on the Move
• The Dry Bean Scene
• Announcements

Below, you can find links to the most recent USDA Weekly Dry Bean Market Reviews. Click on the date to see the report.

• The next USDA Weekly Dry Bean Market report will be released soon. You will be able to find that report here.

• For the Dry Edible Beans Daily Grower Bids, check here.

• August 31, 2026: Compared to last week: Trade remained light. According to the NASS Progress report August 23, 2026, Montana has 81% and North Dakota has 24% lentils harvested and Montana has 84% and North Dakota has 75% dry edible peas harvested and Montana has 54% dry edible beans harvested.

• August 24, 2026: Compared to last week: Trade remained light. FSA Planted Acres report August 12, 2026 has dry edible beans at 1,534,661 acres and Lentils at 624,901 acres and dry edible peas at 1,161,324 acres. According to the NASS Progress report August 16, 2026, Montana has 53% and North Dakota has 16% lentils harvested and Montana has 61% and North Dakota has 52% dry edible peas harvested and Montana has 35% dry edible beans harvested.

• August 17, 2026: Compared to last week: Trade remained light. According to the NASS Progress report August 9, 2026, Montana has 24% and North Dakota has 13% lentils harvested and Montana has 32% and North Dakota has 25% dry edible peas harvested and Montana has 12% dry edible beans harvested.

Fall is in the air, and we are looking forward to lots of comforting bean dishes as the weather cools! From warming soups and chilis, to bean dishes that feature seasonal fall produce like apples, there is no shortage of great bean-centric recipes to enjoy this season.

Check out the recipes and photos below, all from the Bean Institute website.

Apple Bean Bake

It is apple season, making it the perfect time to enjoy this Apple Bean Bake! This recipe only requires a few ingredients, and with the apples and cinnamon, it smells and tastes like fall.

➡️ Find the recipe here.

Classic Chili

Everyone needs a good chili recipe! On the Bean Institute website, there are lots of chili recipes to explore. This Classic Chili stars kidney beans, beef, and other flavorful ingredients and seasonings.

➡️ Find the recipe here.

Navy Bean Soup with Chorizo

This tasty soup recipe comes from Chef Lars Kronmark of The Culinary Institute of America. This Navy Bean Soup with Chorizo is one of his favorite soups from Spain.

➡️ Find the recipe here.

In their August 2026 newsletter, the Bean Institute highlighted how you can build a better sandwich with beans. When it comes to sandwiches, "Beans offer an easy way to change things up. Mashed, puréed, layered whole, or cooked until crisp, they can bring new flavor and texture to sandwiches, wraps, pitas, and toast."

➡️ Read the full post - Build a Better Sandwich with Beans - here. It shares lots of ideas on delicious bean-y sandwiches that pack both flavor and nutrition.

Did you know you can follow the Bean Institute on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube?

Click the icons below to follow on your favorite platform!

The Bean Institute just published a new bean guide, The Bean Table. You can download the PDF for free on the Bean Institute website!

What will you find in The Bean Table?

There are several key topics in this 28-page resource. The main sections are:

• Know Your Beans: 10 Varieties a a Glance
• Health & Wellness
• Sustainability & Agriculture
• Consumer Education
• Culinary Inspiration

Photo from The Bean Table

Health & Wellness

In the health and wellness section, you will find information about bean nutrition, and how beans can support longevity and gut health while helping reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

• Beans are high in fiber and protein. A half-cup serving of beans contains around 7 grams each of both fiber and protein, helping you stay full longer. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourage us to choose fiber-rich foods and to prioritize protein as part of a healthy eating pattern.
• Beans are good for heart health. One of the key benefits of beans is their ability to lower LDL cholesterol (often called "bad" cholesterol), which is a major risk factor for heart disease. Research shows that regularly consuming beans can significantly reduce LDL levels. Studies suggest that eating beans can also help reduce blood pressure.
• Beans promote gut health. Like The Bean Table says, "Beans are a gut-friendly food that can make a big difference in your digestive health. With their high fiber content and prebiotic properties, beans help keep your digestive system running smoothly while supporting a balanced gut microbiome."
• Beans can reduce the risk of chronic disease. Eating beans is associated with a lower risk of certain cancers, such as colorectal cancer. Also, beans can promote blood sugar control, helping prevent or manage type 2 diabetes.
• Beans are associated with longevity. Diets in Blue Zones, regions around the world with high concentrations of centenarians (people 100 years+ old), regularly include beans. "Dan Buettner, who popularized the Blue Zones concept, suggests that eating about a cup of beans a day could add years to your life." Sounds like a tasty way to live a long, healthy life!

Photo from The Bean Table

Delicious Ways to Add More Beans to Your Routine

In addition to tips on how to store and cook dry beans, The Bean Table describes several "Quick Bean Upgrades", simple ways to add beans to meals. Here are a few ideas - and be sure to check out this full resource for more!

• Better Breakfast. Try adding beans to eggs, a veggie hash, or in breakfast burritos.
• Casserole Companion. Stir beans into casseroles to boost both nutrition and heartiness. One great combo is pinto beans in layered taco bakes.
• Pasta Remix. Add whole beans to pasta dishes, puree beans into sauces, or use beans in baked pasta casseroles.
• Pizza Topping Twist. Include beans in your pizza toppings! For instance, enjoy black beans with roasted peppers and onions, or navy beans with pesto and sun-dried tomatoes.
• Sandwich Spread. Mash beans to make a protein-rich spread for wraps, toast, and sandwiches. For example, mash a white bean with lemon and garlic.

Northarvest at the Northern Crops Institute Pulse & Dry Bean Opportunities Course

This August 31 - September 3, the Northern Crops Institute hosted the first Production Opportunities with Pulse & Dry Bean Ingredients Course.

NBGA Finance Director and Education & Sponsorship Committee Staff Lead Jennifer Hansen joined for several of the presentations and course days, to represent NBGA and meet the attendees, coming from over 10 different countries. During lunch the first day, Hansen explained about the work NBGA does and how important dry beans are to the Northarvest region, and she passed out some fun NBGA bean swag. Hansen and North Central Commodities General Manager Dylan Karley attended the group dinner the first day of the course. This provided an opportunity to better connect with course attendees.

Hansen also joined for the product development day of the course, so that she could see, hear, and taste how groups were using dry beans in their product prototypes. Hansen brought a bean dessert to share with everyone during lunch that day, too. Thank you to Hansen and Karley for representing bean growers and processors from our region, and for inspiring course participants - domestic and international - to use more dry bean and pulse ingredients! NBGA also appreciates the work of NCI to bring this course to life, and USA Pulses for supporting the attendance of international delegates.

North Central Bean Dealers Association Meeting

The Northarvest Bean Growers Association would like to thank our valued partners at the North Central Bean Dealers Association for the invitation and opportunity to provide your members with a dry bean farmer update!

It was also great to get the Midwest Dry Bean Coalition (MDBC) together. John Berthold, MDBC President and Location Manager for the Park Rapids, MN Kelley Bean Company location, provided an excellent organizational update for the membership. This was the North Central Bean Dealers Association Pre-Harvest two-day conference at Chase on the Lake in Walker, MN. Thank you, Executive Director Jill Sweeney, for the hospitality!

Meeting with North Dakota Trade Office

The Northarvest Bean Growers Association would like to thank Jiwon Kim from the North Dakota Trade office for inviting Mitch Coulter (NBGA Executive Director) and Shannon Berndt (Northern Pulse Growers Association Executive Director, to speak with professionals from the Dan On Foods Corporation in Vietnam and the Tung Long Grain Corporation Ltd. in Taiwan. The dry pea, lentil, chickpea, and dry bean farmers appreciate the strong efforts of the North Dakota Trade Office to help us build strong international markets for our commodities.

CommonGround North Dakota Conducts Agriculture Education Outreach

Northarvest Bean Growers Association is a sponsor of CommonGround North Dakota. CommonGround North Dakota (CGND) represents our local farm women who connect with consumers through community events to educate about agriculture.

CGND have been very active with a simple concept called, "Not a Latte". These professional women offer a complimentary iced coffee and have conversations about modern agriculture. It is estimated they will reach more than 12,000 consumers through these community events! Thank you for conducting this important educational outreach about agriculture, ladies!

Photos from CGND's Facebook post

Recent Field Tours

The Northarvest Bean Growers Association would like to thank Central Lakes College and North Dakota State University for partnering on the Field Day in Staples, MN. NDSU Dry Bean Breeder Dr. Juan Osorno and Andy Hacker from Bonanza Bean were on hand to answer dry bean questions for farmers. What a great tour!

On August 20th, there was a Row Crop Tour in Carrington, ND. Thank you to NDSU Extension for providing dry bean research updates to our farming community for Irrigation in Oakes and during this field tour!

Brownfield Ag Interviews

Brownfield Ag is helping share updates about the dry bean season in the Northarvest region. Listen to the interviews below to hear directly from dry bean industry professionals.

Some Minnesota dry bean farmers expect above-average crop as harvest nears

Two dry bean farmers in Minnesota say harvest is getting close, and the crops look promising.

1. Cordell Huebsch, NBGA Vice President and Director, raises dark red kidney beans in Ottertail County, located in west-central Minnesota.
2. Dan Ohden, MN Dry Bean Research & Promotion Council Treasurer, raises black beans in Kandiyohi County, in southern Minnesota.

Heat stress challenges some of the Minnesota dry bean crop

Dry bean harvest is starting in western Minnesota and Andy Hacker, the chief of procurement at Bonanza Bean, says the hot growing season has reduced the size of the crop.

Meeting with Senator Kevin Cramer

The Northarvest Bean Growers Association would like to thank the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce for organizing a Town Hall meeting with North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer. We value our Chamber membership for opportunities like direct access to our policy makers!

Thank you to Senator Kevin Cramer for meeting with Chamber members!

The Dry Bean Scene is sponsored, in part, by NBGA. Click on the links below to listen to the most recent episodes.

• ➡️ September 5, 2026: Ryan Wanzek of Wanzek farms in Cleveland, North Dakota, near Jamestown provides an update on dry bean crop conditions. Harvest is underway.

• ➡️ August 28, 2026: Midwest Dry Bean Coalition President John Berthold discusses the current crop conditions and the impact of the dry weather.



• ➡️ August 24, 2026: North Central Commodities General Manager Dylan Karley talks about drought and the impact on dry edible beans.

• ➡️ August 17, 2026: NDSU Extension Cropping Specialist Jeff Stachler says insect pressure is ramping up in the local dry edible bean crop. Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC) is also adding stress to the bean crop.

Free Soybean Cyst Nematode Test Kits!

Soybean cyst nematodes affect more than soybeans.

Want to know if you have soybean cyst nematodes in your dry bean fields? Northarvest Bean Growers Association is funding test kits and instructions. The best time to test your soil is late summer/early fall (before or after harvest) and before the ground freezes.



To request a free test kit, send your name and address to NBGA Finance Director and Education & Sponsorship Committee Staff Lead Jennifer Hansen at jennifer@northarvestbean.org.

You can also read more about soybean cyst nematode (SCN) in dry beans and SCN soil sampling on the NDSU website.

Yellow and stunted kidney beans with SCN. Photo from NDSU.