Greetings, and welcome to NBGA's December 2025 newsletter - our last newsletter of 2025!



Hard to believe, but the end of 2025 is just around the corner! This year was packed with activity, and we have highlighted some of the many special moments in our 2025 NBGA Highlights at the start of the newsletter. Thank you for being a part of this 2025 - whether as a grower, a processor, a researcher, an advocate, or as someone eating the amazing beans from the Northarvest region!

We have a lot of announcement in this newsletter, including information about the International Sugarbeet and Dry Bean Expo happening next month. Our Members have also been very busy, so be sure to check out the NBGA in the News and on the Move section. Happy reading!

We wish everyone a good rest of 2025, and we look forward to seeing folks in 2026!

Some of our many highlights from 2025! Read on for more details.

December 2025 Newsletter Table of Contents:

• 2025 NBGA Highlights
• Bean Poll
• USDA Weekly Dry Bean Market Review
• Announcements
• International Sugarbeet & Dry Bean Expo
• Bean Institute: Warm Up with Beans this Winter!
• Bean Nutrition Corner: The Benefits of Beans - A Year in Review
• Northarvest in the News and on the Move
• The Dry Bean Scene

Bean Poll

Thank you to everyone who participated in our November 2025 poll. Over half of respondents indicated that beans would be in savory dishes on their Thanksgiving table. It was good to hear that many of you planned to enjoy beans for the holidays!

Please participate in this month's poll by clicking on an option below.

December 2025 Poll: Will we be seeing you at the International Sugarbeet and Dry Bean Expo?

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.

• December 8, 2025: "Compared to last week: Trade remained very light. According to NASS, 2025 September yield forecast for Idaho chickpeas is 1110 lb/acre and peas 1730 lb/acre, Montana chickpeas is 1520 lb/acre and lentils 950 lb/acre and peas 1390 lb/acre, Nebraska peas is 2670 lb/acre, North Dakota chickpeas 1730 lb/acre and lentils 1550 lb/acre and peas 2450 lb/acre, Washington chickpeas is 1380 lb/acre and lentils 940 lb/acre and peas 2270 lb/acre."

• December 1, 2025: "Compared to last week: Trade remained very light."

• November 17, 2025: "Compared to last week: Trade remained very light."

NDSU Getting It Right Dry Bean Webinar

Getting It Right is an annual crop production conference featuring the latest research-based production information presented by NDSU specialists.

The 2026 Getting It Right Dry Bean Webinar will be held on February 17, 2025. You can register at the link below. Find more information about other webinars in the Getting It Right series on the NDSU website.

"This year, the bean market is facing a significant surplus due to the halting of federal funding. For many growers, this means excess crop with limited outlets. Rather than letting beans go unused, Convoy of Hope provides an incredible opportunity for farmers, processors, and agricultural companies. Surplus crops can be put to work through Convoy’s Children’s Feeding initiative by providing nutritious meals to school children around the world. Currently, Convoy feeds more than 639,000 children in 40 countries every school day.

"Donating is simpler than you might think. Through a transfer of ownership, you can donate bulk beans directly to Convoy of Hope and receive unique tax advantages, often reducing or eliminating the need to claim the income on your harvest while still deducting input costs. And there’s no hassle on your end. Convoy provides a single point of contact and takes care of logistics, ensuring your crops are efficiently stored, transported, and distributed where they make the greatest difference.



"The process is simple, and the end result is powerful. A surplus crop turns into millions of meals that help children grow, learn, and thrive. And you’re not just providing them with food and a hope for a brighter tomorrow — you’re building a legacy of compassion tied to your family, farm, or company."

To learn more or to make a donation, please click the link below to visit: www.convoyofhope.org.

Central Dakota Ag Day is scheduled for Friday, December 19, at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center. This annual event typically attracts around 100 participants from central and south-central North Dakota, including Benson, Eddy, Foster, Griggs, Sheridan, Stutsman, and Wells counties.

Several sessions will be of particular interest to North Dakota dry bean growers, including presentations on grain market outlook, white mold control, soil fertility, robotic weed control, stress management, and cybersecurity on farms. For more information, visit this link.

SMS/DIRT Conference 2026 +

Winter Camelina Crash Course


The Soil Management Summit (SMS) + DIRT Conference 2026 is brought to you by the University of Minnesota (UMN) Extension and North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension. The conference will take place in Fargo, ND at the Delta Marriott Hotel on January 13 - 15, 2026. You can find more details on the conference website.

"The SMS/DIRT conference emphasizes proven farmer experience and applied science. Straight from the fields, learn how heavier, colder soils aren’t necessarily the challenge they’re made out to be. Hear from long-time no-till, reduced tillage, and cover crop farmers as they share their experiences, so you can be spared the same hard-learned lessons.

"The summit features presentations and Q & A with researchers, farmers and agricultural advisors, information from sponsors, and conversations with farmers experienced in different soil health practices." 

There are also post-conference opportunities, like this Winter Camelina Crash Course. This event will be hosted on the tail end of the 2026 SMS/DIRT conference in Fargo, ND. This event is free to attend and does not require SMS/DIRT registration. You can find details about the crash course and learn more about winter camelina below.

Preparing Agricultural Employers for Minnesota Paid Leave

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, Minnesota Paid Leave will provide payments and job protections to Minnesotans when they need time off for some of life’s most important moments – like welcoming a child, recovering from a serious illness, or caring for a loved one.

As an employer, you play an important role in helping your employees learn about and access Minnesota Paid Leave. To help you prepare for the new program, Paid Leave partnered with the Farm Bureau and the Farmers Union (MFU) to host a virtual information session for farmers and agricultural employers last month (November 2025).

More information about the Paid Leave program is available at: paidleave.mn.gov. Additionally, the Minnesota Paid Leave Team writes, "If you have any follow-up questions, please submit those to our Contact Center or call directly, 651-556-7777. Paid Leave staff are available 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except state holidays. We are here to help you!"

You can also find further details in the resources for agricultural employees that are linked below. Additional materials, including other webinars and an Employer Toolkit, are available at: https://mn.gov/deed/paidleave/employers/prepare/.

For those who may still be unaware, NBGA's annual "Bean Day"- the nation's largest dry edible bean conference - is now held in conjunction with our friends from the Sugarbeet world, offering the chance for farmers & industry partners to get even more out of a single show. It may have a new name and look a little different, but the show remains free to attend.

NBGA, as well as our Sugarbeet partners, look forward to this new opportunity to build on our 50-year history of previous Bean Day events to now include equipment, expand our industry showcase, continue to present dry bean information, and promote the work of our growers who are helping to feed the world.

The International Sugarbeet & Dry Bean Expo brings together two commodities most often shared in our growers' crop rotations. Read more about the details in the press release below...

International Sugarbeet & Dry Bean Expo

EXHIBITORS PLEASE NOTE: Very limited booth spaces remain.

REGISTER YOUR BUSINESS TODAY to ensure you do not miss this first-ever opportunity to present your company to Dry Bean and Sugarbeet producers.

A big thank you to Bush Brother's & Company for being our Presenting Sponsor! We are thrilled to have the

biggest name in canned beans support the very first 
International Sugarbeet & Dry Bean Expo!

Supporting Sponsors

Thank you for helping us make the best first International Sugarbeet & Dry Bean Expo possible!

Partner Sponsors

We appreciate our partners support & efforts in helping us make the inaugural International Sugarbeet & Dry Bean Expo possible!

Contributing Sponsors

We appreciate your support for helping us make the best first International Sugarbeet & Dry Bean Expo possible!

Ropa North America

Valent


Northarvest Bean Growers Association

Reach Partners Inc

Material Motion Inc.

Ag Spray Equipment-Fargo

Satake


Belchim Crop Protection USA


Social Sponsor

Thank you to Spraytec for choosing to be ISDBExpo's social sponsor

Joining us at ISDBExpo?

See the hotel information below to book your rooms now!

CanadInns Destination Centre Grand Forks 
(701) 772-8404 

Address: 1000 S 42nd St, Grand Forks, ND 58201 

Staybridge Suites Grand Forks, an IHG Hotel

(701) 772-9000
Address: 1175 S 42nd St, Grand Forks, ND 58201

Baymont by Wyndham Grand Forks 

(701) 757-2345 

Address: 951 S 42nd St, Grand Forks, ND 58201 

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Grand Forks

(701) 757-3600
Address: 4051 Garden View Dr, Grand Forks, ND 58201

Grand Forks Lodge 

(701) 757-7000

Address: 4040 11th Ave S, Grand Forks, ND 58201

My Place Hotel-Grand Forks  

(701) 757-1717

Address: 1315 S 42nd St, Grand Forks, ND 58201

Additional hotel and community information can be found via

the Grand Forks Conventions and Visitors Bureau 

https://www.visitgrandforks.com/where-to-stay/

As winter sets in, bean dishes that warm us from the inside out can really hit the spot. Here are a few flavorful, bean-forward dishes that are sure to satisfy!

All recipes and photos below are courtesy of the Bean Institute.

Fiesta Black Bean Lasagna

This lasagna is easy to prepare, and the black beans add nice flavor and texture - not to mention nutrition! Thanks to the beans, this lasagna offers much more dietary fiber, along with protein and other vitamins and minerals.

➡️ Find the recipe here.

Pork & Pinto Loaf

This meatloaf stars the classic combination of pork and beans. It also makes for great leftovers, so consider making two and freezing servings for later.

➡️ Find the recipe here.

Smoky Tomato & White Bean Soup

The Culinary Institute of America brings you this delicious tomato and creamy white bean soup. Smoky chipotle and bacon pack a lot of flavor into this satisfying soup!

➡️ Find the recipe here.

In their November 2025 newsletter, the Bean Institute highlighted the role that beans can play in a delicious and nutritious Thanksgiving celebration. As the article says, "it’s a fitting moment to spotlight one ingredient that brings comfort and balance to the same plate: beans." The article also links to several tasty bean recipes.

➡️ Read the full post - Thanksgiving Gets Better with Beans - here.

This month, we are providing a recap of the nutrition topics we have covered this year. 2025 has been an exciting year for beans, with frequent media attention and new research on the many benefits of beans.

What Is the Healthiest Bean? (January 2025)

In January, we highlighted a National Geographic article that delved into the nutritional and health benefits of beans. Key takeaways included that beans provide excellent nutrition, can boost gut health, and that including beans in the diet can support prevention of chronic disease. However, despite the numerous benefits, most people in the United States do not meet the recommended intake.

As the author of the article writes, "Given all these benefits, uses, and flavor profiles, it’s worth experimenting with different beans in your home-cooked meals to see which ones you like."

Screenshot from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/healthiest-beans-legumes

Beans & Heart Health (February 2025)

In honor of February being American Heart Month, we explored how beans can promote cardiovascular health. Indeed, several key organizations recommend beans as part of a heart-healthy diet, such as the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lunch, and Blood Institute.

The dietary fiber in beans can support heart health, for instance by helping lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, and promote satiety - and thereby a health weight. Beans are also rich in potassium, which can help manage high blood pressure.

National Nutrition Month (March 2025)

March is National Nutrition Month^®, and the theme for 2025 was "Food Connects Us." As demonstrated through our outreach, such as Living Ag in the Classroom, we believe it is important to know where our food is coming from and connect with our communities. Northarvest growers help share this message with the world every day!

We linked to an article by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, titled Six Creative Ways to Enjoy Beans. In addition to tips and recipes to help everyone easily and deliciously add more beans to their everyday lives, the article discusses the powerful nutrition of beans: protein, dietary fiber, folate, and more.

Beans: Good for Us, Good for the Earth (April 2025)

With April 22nd being Earth Day, it was the perfect opportunity to share some of the benefits of beans for our planet. We delved into a recent scientific publication, Pulse Crops: Nutrient Density, Affordability, and Environmental Impact, that was authored by researchers Drewnowski and Conrad and published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition in 2024.

In the article, the researchers address how beans are nutrient dense, packing in ample protein along with other nutrition, all at an affordable cost. In fact, the results showed that "effectively pulses offer the most protein (and other key nutrients) per penny." In addition, pulses had the lowest environmental impacts - for both greenhouse gas emissions and energy demand - of the protein foods in this study.

Growing beans is good for the planet

Bean Webinar Synopsis (May 2025)

In May, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension hosted a webinar all about beans, Bean There, Cooked That: Unpacking the Nutritional Power of Dry Beans. Northarvest Bean Growers Association was a proud sponsor of this event, which aimed to showcase the farm to fork story of beans, explain the critical role that our region plays in overall United States bean production, and share about the incredible health benefits of eating beans.

We summarized several of the key takeaways from the webinar. Among those were:

• Beans are an affordable source of protein and other excellent nutrition.
• Beans provide soluble and insoluble fiber.
• Beans do not contain major allergens.
• It is important to introduce beans to children at a young age.
• Beans are a cornerstone of healthy diets around the world, supporting longevity.
• There is incredible diversity within beans - size, shape, color, and taste!
• Some beans, like slow-darkening pinto beans, provide more bioavailable iron.

➡️ You can find the full Bean There, Cooked That webinar playlist on NDSU Extension's YouTube channel by clicking here.

Beans & Weight Management (June 2025)

Public interest in GLP-1 drugs - which can be used for weight loss - has surged, and a 2024 poll published in JAMA reported that approximately 12% of US adults have taken a GLP-1 drug. In June, we shared about a webinar sponsored by USA Pulses, titled Pulses Pave the Way to Weight Management and Better Metabolic Health. 

The webinar addressed how these drugs work to promote weight loss, and how beans and other pulses (e.g., chickpeas, lentils) can play an important role in the diet of those who are on GLP-1 medication. For instance, especially with the reduced caloric intake of those on this medication, it is important to choose nutritious foods high in protein and fiber, like pulses. At the same time, the webinar made it evident that even if someone is not using GLP-1 drugs, beans and other pulses are an excellent choice for anyone looking to maintain a nutrient-dense, delicious diet that can support healthy weight management.

Healthy Eating with Beans (July 2025)

Dr. Julie Garden-Robinson, Professor and Food & Nutrition Specialist at NDSU, recently presented a webinar, On the Pulse of Healthy Eating. A few of the key takeaways from the webinar included:

• Beans can be counted as a vegetable and a protein food, although not both at the same time.
• Beans are high in dietary fiber, protein, vitamins (such as the B vitamin folate), and minerals (like potassium). 
• Beans are very low in total fat, with no saturated fat or cholesterol. 
• A half-cup of cooked pulses contains about 7 - 8 grams of protein, and a similar amount of dietary fiber. 
• Beans contain different types of fiber, such as insoluble fiber (known for helping prevent constipation), and soluble fiber, which can help lower blood cholesterol levels.

➡️ Link to the full webinar, On the Pulse of Healthy Eating with Dr. Julie Garden-Robinson.

One of the webinar slides that shared pulse nutritional information

Antioxidants in Beans (August 2025)

One of the many benefits of beans is that they contain antioxidants, with different types and colors of beans providing diverse antioxidants. This month, we summarized a paper by Bruna Carbas and colleagues - titled Nutrients, Antinutrients, Phenolic Composition, and Antioxidant Activity of Common Bean Cultivars and their Potential for Food Applications.

Overall, the differences in nutritional profile and phytochemical compounds among different types of beans suggests that eating a variety of beans can be beneficial - so that we can reap the benefits that each type may provide. Moreover, better understanding the unique nutritional and phytochemical profiles of diverse bean types can position food scientists and product developers to use the type(s) of bean(s) best suited to each product. For example, darker-colored beans - like red kidney beans - seem to be promising choices for phytochemical enrichment of food products.

Americans Interested in Protein & Fiber (September 2025)

A recent International Food Information Council (IFIC) report discussed how Americans are looking for more protein and dietary fiber. In fact, the most common diet that Americans reported following was "high protein", with 23% reporting that they have followed a high protein diet in the last year. This is the third straight year that high protein was the top response. With regards to nutrients Americans are looking to consume, dietary fiber ranked number two, right after protein. This interest in both protein and dietary protein aligns perfectly with the nutritional profile of beans, which are rich in both. Indeed, beans are one of the very best natural sources of dietary fiber, two to three times richer in fiber than whole grains! 

Beans Can Help Prevent Cancer (October 2025)

The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) closely monitors cancer research, distilling the research into digestible information and helpful tips. AICR has created a list of foods that - eaten as part of a healthy and complete dietary pattern - may help prevent cancer: AICR's Foods that Fight Cancer™. Beans and other pulses are on the list, and AICR recommends eating them regularly. There are numerous compounds in pulses that can help fight cancer and promote overall health, for instance by supporting a healthy gut microbiome. Among these are: dietary fiber, folate, and various phytochemicals.

Consumer Listening Analysis on Dry Beans (November 2025)

We summarized key results from MBOLD’s consumer listening analysis on dry beans, oats, and chickpeas. The study demonstrated that consumers had largely positive perceptions of beans, recognizing them as affordable, filling, and nutritious. Beans were also viewed as a comfort food by consumers. Moreover, recipe developers and consumers showed wide recognition of the impressive versatility of beans, using them in an array of recipes and diverse dishes.

➡️ Find the full listening analysis on the MBOLD website.

Screenshot from the consumer listening analysis report

Northarvest on PBS

Northarvest Bean Growers Association is blessed to work with incredible farmers. Recently, Norm and Jon Krause joined host Ray Gildow on the PBS television show Lakeland Currents to talk about farm transition. You can watch the segment by clicking on the link below.

The Family Farming episode synopsis on PBS reads: "Lakeland Currents host Ray Gildow is joined by Norm and Jon Krause, a father and son team of farmers from central Minnesota. The trio discusses the agricultural business and ways that it has grown and changed over their lives. Each shares stories from the farm, successes, challenges, and their plans for more growth."

Thank you to the Krause family for your leadership in agriculture!

NBGA participates in the Pride of Dakota show

Northarvest Bean Growers Association participates in the Pride of Dakota show in Bismarck, ND on Friday and Saturday, December 5 and 6.

NBGA was invited by the Department of Ag – Ag in the Classroom coordinator Heather Lang, with the goal of showcasing North Dakota commodities to event-goers. Jennifer Hansen, Sponsorship & Education Coordinator, and Jon Hansen, Educational Outreach Associate, brought the popular Legume Banner that stayed up through both days of the show. They also participated in a presentation at 4:00 pm on Friday. Jon entertained the audience with Bean Trivia while Jennifer helped youngsters make Bean Lifecycle Keychains. These events are great for reminding visitors where their food comes from, and that many dry beans come from right here in the Northarvest region.

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

• ➡️ December 1, 2025: NDSU Extension Plant Pathologist Sam Markell discusses preparations for the 2026 growing season.

• ➡️ November 21, 2025: NDSU Extension Dry Bean Breeder Juan Osorno talks about a recent trip to Zambia where he helped local growers develop legume crops.

• ➡️ November 15, 2025: NDSU Extension Dry Bean Breeder Juan Osorno and Johnstown Bean Company General Manager Dylan Karley provide a recap of the 2025 crop.