The Manitoba Pulse Growers Association began in 1983 when a group of bean growers, along with John Rogalsky from Manitoba Agriculture, met to discuss strategy for accessing the Agricultural Stabilization Act support for Manitoba bean producers which was at the time being paid to Ontario producers only. When producers contacted Ottawa, they were told that Ottawa would deal with an organized entity only, not with individuals.
The organization was incorporated on March 13, 1984 with a developed constitution and by-laws. Founding directors were:
Because the organization was very small and had no funds, Manitoba Agriculture provided the secretarial and accounting support, primarily through John Rogalsky and later John Dean.
During the mid-1980s MPGA received funding through the Agri-Food initiative, which allowed them to become involved in pulse crop demonstrations. Ongoing activities included support for the Morden Research Station, continuing discussions with governments on pulse issues, a number of pulse promotion initiatives, involvement with Western Canada Pulse Growers Association, and a newsletter which was written and sent out by Manitoba Agriculture.
In 1987, the Association hired a part-time secretary-treasurer to handle the accounting and clerical duties. With the termination of the Agri-Food program, funds for any research or education support became desperately short.
In 1989, the Manitoba Government passed the Agricultural Producers Funding Act which granted check-off funding to producer organizations. The government conducted the vote for MPGA, sending ballots to pulse producers throughout Manitoba. A strong majority of the ballots returned favoured a check-off, and the system was put in place by October 1989.
In 1991, MPGA hired a second staff person because the workload for one person had become too much.
In 1992, MPGA contributed $53,000 to research, developed a high-quality quarterly magazine for its 2,500+ members, and built a reserve to ensure programs could carry on even through a year of crop failure.
MPGA staff worked out of home offices until 2000, when the association began renting office space in Carman, where they are still located today.
Today, MPGA contributes in excess of $350,000 per year to research, has a full compliment of staff to administer the policies and programs of the Association, partners with other associations and government groups to address issues relating to the pulse industry on a national basis, produces a high quality magazine/newsletter for its 3,500+ members, and has built a reserve to ensure programs shall carry on even through a year of crop failure.