Farm406

21 farm406 Lentils are packaged in a bag bearing Stricks Ag's logo and promise to share farming experience and education with customers. Stricks Ag was born out of a realization of numerous opportunities in Montana's agriculture industry. "We connect farmers directly to the end users," explains Whitney. "We offer marketing, transportation logistics and education to producers." In 2011, the Streits and Wicks partnered as Stricks Ag, and, in 2012, purchased a Chester elevator for a processing facility where they employ 26 people to receive, clean, sort and sell pulse crops. Stricks Ag takes a holistic approach to business, from the seeds to the finished products. "We take the grain from the farm to the processing facility where we clean and sort it, then send it directly to the customers," says Jillien. "That way our customers have the security of origin, knowing exactly where it came from and where it has been." Providing transportation from the field was very crucial for the business, says Patrick. In 2014, Chester native Brad Kantorowicz joined Stricks Ag to handle transportation logistics; he became a company partner in 2017. "When the growers found out we'd send trucks to the field, they were on board," says Patrick. "Pulse crops are trickier to store than cereal crops in regards to preserving quality and color. They are more delicate than wheat." Stricks Ag contracts with 400 growers scattered throughout Montana, southern Saskatchewan and Alberta. "We have growers from Fergus County to southern Alberta and Plentywood to Browning," says Jillien. "We have been blessed to grow our business in Montana where there are a lot of needs and a lot of growing to do." Being farmers themselves, the Stricks Ag partners understand there is a learning curve when incorporating pulse crops into a wheat-fallow rotation. They coordinate meetings where farmers can connect with agronomists, crop insurance agents and seed specialists to help facilitate diversification and introduction of pulse crops to crop rotations. "Each have their own individual set of do's and don'ts," says Jillien. "The more we learn about the crops the more we build our base of knowledge and share it. That's why we say 'We're your farmer.' We learn it from farmers and want to share it." Montana has been producing pulse crops for more than 15 years. In 2007, Montanans seeded 80,000 acres of peas and lentils primarily in northeastern Montana. In 2011, Montana became the nation's leader in pulse crop acreage. In 2017, Montanans seeded 1.25 million acres and harvested 1.15 million acres of peas and lentils, according to the Montana Ag Statistics Service. "There are a lot more incentives now to plant peas and lentils than in the past," says Thomas Chard, statistics survey coordinator. "There are more export markets and more demand for them in the U.S. They can be a high value crop to put into a rotation." Chester-area farmer Vince Mattson began incorporating pulse crops into his family's wheat farm nearly 10 years ago and was one of the first to support Stricks Ag. "We made an agronomic decision to seed pulses," he explains. "What began as an experiment has now become a staple in our wheat rotation. I am more comfortable increasing my pulse acres when I get to work with someone I know and trust." Keith Danreuther of Loma, Mont., says he and his son, Big business is happening in this small Montana town as a group of young entrepreneurs with agriculture backgrounds are adding value to pulse crops grown in Montana and southern Canada.

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