What's Cropping Up: Exploring Winter Pea and Winter Lentil Pulse Production in the Northeast

This blog post summarizes a two-year SARE Partnership project examining feasibility and profitability of winter pulse production in the Northeast US. Winter grain pea variety trials and winter lentil seeding rate trials were conducted in replicated plots at Cornell University research stations, and in unreplicated plots at the Peter & Hanna Martens Farm in Penn Yan, NY. Winter pea varieties were identified that out-yielded 'Keystone', a commonly grown variety, and showed similar yield stability between seasons. For 'Morton' winter lentils, establishment and yield improved substantially when sown with a winter oat nurse crop, and yield did not improve at seeding rates higher than 40 lbs/ac. A partial budget analysis showed profit potential for both winter grain pea and winter lentil.