Meeting Minutes December 10-11, 2025

The State Board of Agricultural Research and Education met for a regular meeting on December 10, 2025. Present: Jim Bahm, Doug Bichler, Tom Bodine, Mike Clemens, Pres. David Cook, John Dhuyvetter, Aaron Galbreath, Chair Pam Gulleson, Scott Huso, Greg Lardy, Rep. Alisa Mitskog, John Nordgaard, and Julie Zikmund. Absent: Pres. David Cook, Doug Goehring, Sen. Jerry Klein, and Scott Ouradnik.

Chair Gulleson called the meeting to order at 12:55 p.m.

Approval of November 13, 2025 Meeting Minutes

MOTION: Scott Huso made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Jim Bahm seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Administrative Update from Greg Lardy, Joe and Norma Peltier VP for Agriculture, Dean, Director, Director

Dr. Lardy gave updates on a timeline for strategic planning, and provided updates on the OMB budget. He also discussed changes to how ND Horizon, a new spring wheat variety, will be released. This variety will be available to growers as a Certified Seed Only release. This will allow the NDSU Research Foundation, and their licensee, North Dakota Crop and Seed Improvement Association, to enter new markets with agronomy centers and other retail establishments. The variety is best suited for eastern North Dakota. He announced the retirement of Randy Mehlhoff – Langdon Research Extension Center Director as well as the hiring of Michael Boland - AgCountry Endowed Chair in Agribusiness and Mike Kangas - Ag Facilities Manager.

Administrative Update from Lynette Flage, Associate Director NDSU Extension

Dr. Flage announced that she is serving on the NDSU Presidential search committee along with Keith Peltier, former SBARE chair. She noted a related survey sent to the board.

She announced several upcoming winter meetings for NDSU Extension as well as the graduating class ten of the Rural leadership development program.

Administrative Update from Frank Casey, Associate Director of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station

Dr. Casey provided an update to attend Senator Hoven round table meeting for North Dakota commodity groups. He announced that Dr. Heidi Pecoraro has been hired as the North Dakota attending veterinarian for NDSU in Research and Creative Activity. A search for interim director of the Veterinary Diagnostics lab is underway.

Comments from, Pam Gulleson SBARE Chair

Chair Gulleson discussed with the board more on the OMB budget communications and upcoming input sessions.

Input Testimony

• Dr. Chris Augustin - NDSU Dickinson Research Extension Center
• Dr. Leigh Ann Skurupey - NDSU Extension 4-H Youth Development Program
• Erica Olson - ND Wheat Commission
• Gary Shields - Northland Potato Growers Association
• Myrna Hanson - ND Community of Care

Meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m. CST

December 11, 2025 MEETING MINUTES | Virtual

The State Board of Agricultural Research and Education met for a regular meeting on December 11, 2025. Present: Jim Bahm, Doug Bichler, Tom Bodine, Mike Clemens, Pres. David Cook, John Dhuyvetter, Aaron Galbreath, Chair Pam Gulleson, Scott Huso, Greg Lardy, Rep. Alisa Mitskog, John Nordgaard, and Julie Zikmund. Absent: Pres. David Cook, Doug Goehring, Sen. Jerry Klein, and Scott Ouradnik.

Chair Gulleson called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

Input Testimony

• Dr. Mohamed Khan - NDSU Extension ANR
• Dr. Marlen Eve - NDSU Research Extension Center Network
• Tyler Tjelde - Williston Research Extension Center
• Dr. Shana Forster - North Central Research Extension Center
• Dr. Kevin Sedivec - Central Grassland Research Extension Center
• Brian Otteson - Agronomy Seed Farm
• Dr. Marlen Eve - Langdon Research Extension Center
• Dr. Guillermo Scaglia - NDSU Animal Sciences Department – Capital Request
• Dr. Shana Forster - North Central Research Extension Center – Capital Request
• Dr. Christopher Schauer - Hettinger Research Extension Center – Capital Request
• Dr. Mike Ostlie - Carrington Research Extension Center – Capital Request
• Drs. Frank Casey and Lynette Flage - NDSU Initiatives
• Dr. Rich Horsley - NDSU Plant Sciences Department
• Dr. William Nganje - NDSU Agribusiness and Applied Economics Department
• Dr. Thomas DeSutter - NDSU School of Natural Resources and Sciences
• Dr. Guillermo Scaglia - NDSU Animal Sciences Department
• Dr. Leon Schumacher - NDSU Agricultural Biosystems and Engineering Department
• Dr. Sam Markell - NDSU Plant Pathology Department
• Dr. John McEvoy - NDSU Microbiological Sciences Department
• Dr. Heidi Pecoraro - NDSU Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory

Meeting adjourned at 4:07 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
Erin McCall