Meeting Minutes December 12-13, 2023

December 12, 2023 Meeting Minutes | Fargo, ND

The State Board of Agricultural Research and Education met for a regular meeting on December 12-13, 2023. Present: Jim Bahm, Doug Bichler, Pres. David Cook, John Dhuyvetter, Doug Goehring, Pam Gulleson, Larry Hoffmann, Sen. Jerry Klein, Greg Lardy, Sarah Lovas, Rep. Alisa Mitskog (virtual), John Nordgaard, Scott Ouradnik, Mark Urquhart (afternoon), and Julie Zikmund.

Chair Lovas called the meeting to order at 8:04 a.m.

Approval of November 9, 2023 Meeting Minutes

MOTION: Pam Gulleson made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Sen. Jerry Klein seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Administrative Update from David Cook, President of NDSU

Dr. Cook announced that Norma Peltier will be receiving an honorary PhD at the winter commencement ceremony.

Administrative Update from Greg Lardy, VP for Agricultural Affairs, Dean, Director, Director

Dr. Lardy gave an update that the Peltier Complex is scheduled to be completed in April 2024. There will be a six-week move-in process, followed by an opening ceremony expected in June 2024.

The new field labs facility will be named after one of the first Ag Experiment Station scientists, Henry L. Bolley. A naming ceremony will be scheduled upon the building’s completions.

Dr. Lardy announced that in the fall of 2024, a fully online Bachelor of Science in Agriculture will be available, and in the fall of 2025, a fully online Masters Degree in Agriculture will be available.

Additionally, Mark Jirik, Director of the Northern Crops Institute (NCI), has announced that he will be leaving the NCI in February 2024.
Dr. Lardy announced that Giving Day was highly successful for both the University and the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources. A record-breaking year consisted of over $2.1 million raised for the University and over $500,000 for the College in donations and matches.

Administrative Update from Lynette Flage, Associate Director of NDSU Extension

Dr. Flage announced that Dr. Wade Webster has been hired as the Extension soybean pathologist. Additionally, there are three candidates interviewing for the Extension swine specialist. In 2024, two long-time Extension specialists will be retiring: Dr. Dave Franzen, soil science specialist, and Kim Bushaw, family science specialist.

Dr. Flage noted that operational funding was provided for 4-H, Extension Professional Development, and World Organization this year.

Administrative Update from Frank Casey, Associate Director, North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station (AES)

Dr. Casey explained that the graduate programs in all five NDSU colleges will be following a cohesive Graduate Tuition Waiver model, which is set to be implemented in 2024.The Agricultural Experiment Station has completed the NIFA Civil Rights review and will routinely update resources. The NSF Engines Strategic Planning meeting has been meeting to review the NSF Engine and resources as they await the announcement of recipients.

Comments from Sarah Lovas, SBARE Chair

Chair Lovas briefed the Board on receiving stakeholder input. She announced that testimony will be received up until January 3, 2024.

Input Session

• ND Soybean Growers Association - Nancy Johnson
• ND Corn Growers Association - Brenda Elmer
• ND Corn Council - Jean Henning
• Dickinson REC - Dr. Chris Augustin
• Agronomy Seed Farm - Brian Otteson
• Langdon REC - Randy Mehlhoff
• ND Livestock Alliance - Amber Wood
• ND Wheat Commission - Neil Fisher
• AgCountry Farm Credit Services - Howard Olson
• State Soil Conservation District - Wes Fredrick

Break for lunch at 11:50 a.m. Chair Lovas called a return to order at 12:48 p.m.

• Red River Basin Commission - Ted Preister
• ND Foundation Seedstocks - Steve Sebesta
• ND Weed Control Association - Stan Wolf
• ND Stockmen’s Association & Foundation - Julie Schaff Ellingson
• NDSU Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics - Dr. William Nganje
• NDSU Department of Plant Pathology - Dr. Jack Rasmussen
• NDSU School of Natural Resource Sciences - Dr. Christina Hargiss
• NDSU Precision Ag Livestock Program - Dr. Leon Schumacher and Dr. Guillermo Scaglia
• NDSU Vet Diagnostic Lab - Dr. Heidi Pecoraro
• NDSU Department of Microbiological Sciences - Dr. John McEvoy
• NDSU Department of Plant Sciences - Dr. Rich Horsley
• NDSU Research and Creative Activities– Dr. Colleen Fitzgerald

MOTION: Sen. Jerry Klein made a motion to adjourn the meeting. President Cook seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 4:38 p.m.

December 13, 2023 Meeting Minutes | Fargo, ND

The State Board of Agricultural Research and Education met for a regular meeting on December 13, 2023. Present: Jim Bahm, Doug Bichler, Pres. David Cook, John Dhuyvetter, Doug Goehring, Pam Gulleson, Larry Hoffmann, Greg Lardy, Sarah Lovas, Rep. Alisa Mitskog (virtual), John Nordgaard, Scott Ouradnik, Mark Urquhart, and Julie Zikmund. Absent: Sen. Jerry Klein.

Chair Lovas called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.

Input Session

• NDSU Extension Family and Community Wellness - Dr. Carrie Johnson
• NDSU Extension Ag and Natural Resources - Dr. Mohamed Khan
• ND 4-H Youth Development - Dr. Leigh Ann Skurupey
• Grand Farm - Dr. William Aderholt
• ND Farmers Union - Matt Perdue
• NDSU Extension Aging in Community - Brenna Welton
• ND Department of Agriculture - Samantha Brunner
• ND Beekeepers Association - John Miller
• Central Grasslands REC – Dr. Kevin Sedivec
• Ducks Unlimited: Conservation Initiative - Ryan Taylor
• NDSU Extension: Conservation Initiative - Greg Link
• Reclamation Working Group: Conservation Initiative - Jason Leiseth
• Pesticide Assessment: Conservation Initiative - Andrew Thostenson
• Northland Potato Growers Association - Matt VanRay

Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC) Appropriation Transfer Request

MOTION: Jim Bahm made a motion to approve the Carrington REC appropriation transfer request as presented. Doug Bichler seconded the motion. Motion passed.

MOTION: John Dhuyvetter made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Jim Bahm seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 12:41 p.m.

Lunch to follow for the Board.

Respectfully submitted,
Erin McCall