Research

The Hettinger REC is a semi-arid site located in southwest North Dakota, providing the most southerly NDSU location in the non-glaciated portion of North Dakota as a site for its agronomy research program.  The HREC also is located at the center of the North Dakota sheep industry, the focus of one of its animal research programs.  Furthermore, the HREC is located in an area of rapidly growing livestock feeding ventures, another focus of animal research at the HREC.  Additionally, the HREC is located in a region where much of the land base is in the Conservation Reserve Program and Forest Service lands, which has resulted in additional research evaluating potential changes in the CRP program and how these changes may affect upland native and game bird populations.  A new research program evaluating low-cost rangeland monitoring strategies on U.S. Forest Service lands has resulted in a significant increase in the quantity of rangeland, livestock, and wildlife interaction research conducted at the HREC throughout the western Dakotas.  Research at HREC involves the disciplines of animal science, range and wildlife science agronomy, and weed science.  Collaboration is with Main Station scientists, Branch Station scientists, U.S. Forest Service, grazing associations, university scientists from WY, SD, and MT, and USDA research entities in these research disciplines to improve the productivity of livestock and cropping systems and economic development of the region.  Through these efforts, the center’s research program has gained a national reputation for  its involvement with sheep production systems as well as a strong regional and state reputation for its research in agronomy, multiple-land use, and calf backgrounding.

LIVESTOCK

BEEF

SHEEP

RAM TEST

Christopher Schauer, Director and Animal Scientist
Janna Block, Area Extension Specialist, Livestock Systems

• Ram Test, Sheep Schools, Shearing Schools and Certified Wool Classing Schools
• Value Added Animal Production- evaluation of forage, grain, byproduct and marketing alternatives in calf and lamb finishing
• Novel techniques and feeding systems for improving reproductive efficiency in Rambouillet ewes
• Alternative grazing systems for cattle and sheep that minimize labor

AGRONOMY 

John Rickertsen, Agronomist
Michael Wells, Agronomy Technician

• Crop variety trials throughout SW North Dakota
• Incorporation of cover crops into no-till cropping system

RANGE AND WILDLIFE

Benjamin Geaumont, Wildlife and Range Scientist

Alex Rischette, Wildlife and Range Technician

• An Assessment of the importance of shelterbelts as early season nectar and pollen resources for domesticated honeybees
• Using drones to assess floristic resources for pollinators over space and time
• Restoring disturbance to old Conservation Reserve Program Fields to Promote Ecosystem Services.
• Evaluate the ability of over seeding native forbs following prescribed fire to enhance habitat for pollinators. Assess differences in seeding method and impact of herbivory on forb establishment
• Monitoring native pollinator communities throughout North Dakota: Status and Management considerations for bees and butterflies.
• Land use and severe weather events, ring-necked pheasant survival in a changing landscape.
• Alternative Land Management on Lands Managed for Wildlife
• Managing disturbance for multi-functional rangelands: livestock, plant, and pollinator resource management strategies the differentially use fire and grazing

WEED SCIENCE

Caleb Dalley, Weed Scientist
Daniel Abe, Weed Science Technician

• Evaluate herbicides for control of annual and perennial weeds in no-till cropping systems
• Investigate new herbicides for safety and use in minor crops grown in southwest North Dakota
• Conduct trials on impact of herbicide carryover on crop production
• Evaluate herbicides for control of annual and perennial weeds in pasture and native rangelands