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

Later this month, we will officially welcome the first day of spring, and National Agriculture Week is March 15 - 21. As winter comes to a close, we recognize how busy growers are preparing for this year's growing season. Thank you for your commitment to agriculture and providing healthy food to folks both near and far!

In this newsletter, you'll find a link to the 2025 Bean Market Summary by USDA, important updates about recent Northarvest happenings and upcoming plans, the YouTube playlist with all the recordings from the 2026 Getting It Right Dry Bean Production webinars, a synopsis of a recent webinar recording on the power of pulses by USA Pulses and a link to the recording, ideas for quick and tasty bean dips, Dry Bean Scene episodes, and much more.

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!

Ryan Ammerman and Eric Jorgenson at the recent MX-Latam Conference

March 2026 Newsletter Table of Contents:

• A look back at ISDBE
• USDA Weekly Dry Bean Market Review
• Announcements
• Bean Institute: Bean Dips
• Bean Nutrition Corner: Whole Foods, Whole Health: The Power of Pulses
• Northarvest in the News and on the Move
• The Dry Bean Scene

ISDBE is in the books, but there is more to see - Including the Highlight video. NBGA would like to once again thank our partners at Red River Valley Sugabeet Growers Association, Reach Partners, Presenting Sponsor Bush Brothers & Co., our many additional sponsors, our exhibitors & vendors, and the 1400 attendees for helping us put on a great show!

The Youtube playlist is now LIVE for the available recorded sessions.

➡️ You can view the 2026 ISDBE presentations on Youtube right here

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.

• 2025 Bean Market Summary. You can find the full report by USDA linked here.

• March 2, 2026: "Compared to last week: Trade remained very light."

• February 23, 2026: "Compared to last week: Trade remained very light. 2025 Annual Summary can be found at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/lsaba.pdf."

Discovery Farms Webinar:

Farmamerica Drainage Water Management Project Update

This upcoming free webinar highlights the latest research on Drainage Water Management (DWM) in Minnesota and what it means for growers, landowners, and conservation partners.

Researchers and field experts will share insights from recent Minnesota-based studies examining how drainage water management impacts soil health, nutrient retention, water quality, and crop performance. They will also discuss practical considerations for implementing DWM systems and lessons learned from on-farm applications.

Webinar Details:

• Date: Wednesday, March 25th
• Time: 10 am, Central

Agenda Details:

• Tim Radatz - Discovery Farms project updates
• Jessica Rollins - Farmamercia updates
• Jeppe Kjaersgaard - Northwest Minnesota Drainage Water Management Research

Whether you're exploring drainage water management for the first time or looking to refine existing systems, this session will provide timely, research-backed information you can apply in the field.

There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.

Returns and costs can vary considerably between producers within a region, and projected profits vary by region and crop. The budgets estimate returns to labor and management, with no consideration of price and yield variability or risk.

“There is no perfect comparison of crops because there are different levels of labor, management and risk to consider,” says Ron Haugen, NDSU Extension farm management specialist.

A warm, wet fall in 2025 contributed to higher-than-average soil fertility levels, explains Haugen.

"As a result, fertilizer application rates should be lower in most regions,” says Haugen. “However, fertilizer prices are up, so the overall fertilizer cost per acre will be higher than 2025.



“This year, in most regions, and for most crops, the projected profitability is low or negative,” continues Haugen. “Inputs and ownership costs are flat to somewhat higher, but lower commodity prices are the main contributor to the lower profitability. It’s a revenue problem.”

Chemical expenses are generally flat, fuel costs are down, interest costs are down, and ownership and repair costs are up. Some specialty crops may show a positive return but usually have limited contracts and acreages, and they may also carry a higher risk.

Individual farmers are encouraged to develop their own budgets with their specific estimates.

The NDSU Extension budgets are available online at ndsu.ag/cropbudgets26. A PDF version is also available, along with spreadsheets for producers to input their own estimates.



Printed copies are available at NDSU Extension county offices.

New Course by the Northern Crops Institute on Opportunities for Dry Bean Ingredients

This year, the Northern Crops Institute (NCI) is offering an exciting new course. This course - Production Opportunities with Pulse & Dry Bean Ingredients - will take place on August 31 - September 3, 2026.

For more information, click here or on the image below.

Bean dips are a perfect, versatile dish to showcase how delicious beans are. They make for great after school or after work snacks, a satisfying appetizer, healthy sandwich and wrap spreads, and more. Thanks to the beans, they are rich in dietary fiber and protein, as well as nice and creamy.

It can be convenient to have a tasty, healthy snack on hand, so try making up a large batch to keep some in the refrigerator. Or, switch it up and serve a nice hot bean dip at your next get together.

There are so many bean dips to choose from, but here are a few ideas! All recipes and photos below are courtesy of the Bean Institute.

Did you know you can follow Bean Institute on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tiktok, and Youtube?

Click the icons below to follow on your favorite platform!

Beans & Basketballs Dip

This simple dip only requires a few ingredients: beans, beef, taco seasoning, salsa, cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips for dipping. The recipe stars refried beans. You can use refried beans made with pinto beans or black beans, whichever you prefer.

➡️ Find the recipe here.

Chili Bean Dip

Red kidney beans make this chili bean dip a beautiful, vibrant color. The chili powder and other spices and ingredients add great flavor to this easy-to-make, tasty dip.

➡️ Find the recipe here.

Pinto Bean Hummus

This pinto bean hummus is a nice snack with veggies, pita chips, or crackers. It also makes a great spread for hummus toast, sandwiches, and wraps.

➡️ Find the recipe here.

In their February 2026 newsletter, the Bean Institute discussed how beans are a perfect fit with February meals: "Protein-rich and substantial, beans help build meals that feel complete...They add body to soups, depth to stews, and substance to familiar meals without demanding extra effort."

➡️ Read the full post - Beans for the Home Stretch - here.

Are you looking for a delicious, versatile, and nutrient-dense food? You needn’t look further than pulses, e.g., dry beans, chickpeas, lentils, dry peas. Pulses may be tiny, but they are mighty. Their many benefits for nutrition and overall health are increasingly being recognized, with exciting new research constantly emerging. USA Pulses recently hosted a webinar on this topic, titled Whole Foods, Whole Health: The Power of Pulses.



The webinar covered a variety of topics, ranging from pulse nutrition to recent research findings, from sustainability wins associated with growing and eating pulses to simple swaps to add more pulses to our daily routines. We highlight some of the key takeaways in this month’s nutrition corner.

Trends: Whole Foods Diet, Protein, & Fiber

The webinar began with information about how the Whole Foods Diet has been trending, with impressive year-over-year growth.

Screenshot of a slide from the webinar showing the popularity of the Whole Foods Diet.

Pulses are a natural fit with the Whole Foods Diet. Pulses are rich in the nutrients protein and fiber, which are both "hot" with those following a Whole Foods Diet, and to broader consumer groups as well. For example, in just a half-cup serving of cooked pulses, there is an average of 6-8 grams of fiber and 7-9 grams of protein.

Washington is also paying attention to the positive impacts of fiber, highlighting the importance of fiber-rich foods in the newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), 2025-2030, as shown below. Furthermore, legumes like pulses are listed as key plant protein options in the DGA.

Screenshot of a webinar slide

Pulses Are Good for the Planet



Not only does growing and eating pulses support human health and well-being, but it is also good for our planet. Several of the key sustainability benefits of pulses were addressed in the webinar, including:



• Pulses fight food waste, in part due to their long shelf-life
• Pulses can improve soil health and fix nitrogen
• Pulses have low water usage, helping conserve water resources

Pulse Swaps

Adding more beans and other pulses to our regular meals can be easier than you may think! Here are a few ideas highlighted in the webinar:

• Use hummus as a spread. Instead of mayonnaise, try hummus in your next sandwich or wrap. There are many different types of hummus to choose from, like this White Bean Basil Hummus recipe that Chef Lauren Zobac created in partnership with NBGA.
• Swap some or all grains with pulses. Instead of only rice, enjoy a blend of rice and beans as the base for your next burrito bowl.
• Beans belong in baked goods. Pureed beans make an excellent substitute for ingredients like flour and oil, for healthier baked goods that still deliver on flavor. For example, try making brownies with pureed red kidney or black beans, or bake up a batch of these White Bean Blondies or Red Bean Crinkle Cookies.
• Add beans to tacos and nachos. Try adding refried beans in tacos, either as a refried bean-meat mix or in place of the meat. You can also use refried beans or whole beans for some bean-powered nachos. Pinto beans and black beans are a classic for nachos – simple sprinkle the tortilla chips with the beans and other ingredients like cheese, avocado, and salsa. You could even use bean-based chips!

Screenshot of a slide demonstrating tasty potential pulse swaps. You can find many other recipe ideas on the USA Pulses website, the Bean Institute, and on NBGA’s very own YouTube channel.

Webinar Recording

➡️ Watch the Whole Foods, Whole Health: The Power of Pulses webinar here.

Northarvest Attends Latam Conference

The Northarvest Bean Growers Association wishes to thank Directors Eric Jorgenson and Ryan Ammerman for attending the USA Beans, Peas, Lentils, Chickpeas MX-Latam Conference 2026.

Northarvest was a proud sponsor of this event, which provided important market updates, networking opportunities, and a venue for one-on-one business meetings.

Leann Schafer - ND Dry Bean Council, District 6

North Dakota Living Ag Classroom 2026

North Dakota Living Ag Classroom has concluded for the year, with events taking place across Jamestown, Minot, Bismarck, and West Fargo. In total, 75 schools with nearly four thousand(!) students came out to learn how Agriculture touches their everyday lives in North Dakota.


Northarvest would like to thank David Wieler for assisting in Jamestown, Leann Schafer (above) & Eric Jorgenson for making the trip to Minot, the FFA Students for volunteering in Bismark, and Dexter Cronquist, Karl Jodock, & Eric Samuelson - all of whom helped at the Fargo event.

David Wieler - ND Dry Bean Council, District 1

Eric Jorgenson - NBGA Director, District 3

FFA Volunteers

Karl Jodock - ND Dry Bean Council, District 3

Eric Samuelson - NBGA Director, District 7

NDSU Getting It Right Dry Bean Webinar Recordings

Below, you will find links to the 2026 Getting It Right Dry Bean Production Webinar recordings. There is a playlist on YouTube with 8 different topics.

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

• ➡️ March 6, 2026: The Northarvest Bean Growers Association has commissioned a new ag risk policy study. Northarvest Executive Director Mitch Coulter highlights the results.

• ➡️ March 2, 2026: Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership (MARL) Executive Director Brad Schloesser reports that applications are being accepted for the next MARL class. The goal is to grow leadership skills.

• ➡️ February 20, 2026: NDSU Plant Pathologist Michael Wunsch talks about the risk of white mold and the importance of application timing.

• ➡️ February 16, 2026: USA Pulses CEO Tim McGreevy discusses the India-US trade framework and the impact on pulse crops.