Meeting Minutes February 21, 2024

February 21, 2024 Meeting Minutes | Mandan, ND

The State Board of Agricultural Research and Education met for a regular meeting on February 21, 2024. Present: Jim Bahm (virtual), Doug Bichler, Tom Bodine (representing Commissioner Doug Goehring), John Dhuyvetter, Pam Gulleson, Larry Hoffmann, Sen. Jerry Klein, Greg Lardy, Sarah Lovas, Rep. Alisa Mitskog (virtual), Scott Ouradnik, Mark Urquhart, and Julie Zikmund. Absent: Pres. David Cook and John Nordgaard.

Chair Lovas called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m.

Approval of January 17, 2024 Meeting Minutes

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

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

Dr. Lardy informed the Board that the NCI (Northern Crops Institute) conducted a reduction in force with five full time employees to bring expenditures in line with expected revenues. The reduction in force takes effect March 1.

Construction Updates: A tentative date of June 12 has been selected for the Peltier Complex ribbon cutting ceremony. The Field Lab is currently undergoing final design review and will begin bidding shortly. Plans are to begin construction this coming summer. Additionally, there is ongoing bidding for the Langdon and Carrington Research Extension Centers (RECs) projects. There is continued inflationary pressure on all construction projects. Progress continues on the Dickinson REC shop/laboratory facility and the Hettinger REC projects are largely completed.

Dr. Lardy shared that another round of the NDSU Voluntary Separation Incentive Program was launched as a buyout program for tenured faculty lines to aid in adjustments to the teaching budgets.

Dr. Lardy announced that a large donation has been made to the NDSU Engineering Complex. This building will house Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. This donation completes the fundraising for this building.

On March 27 there will be a strategy review for NDSU Extension and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station with the Governor’s office and representatives from the Office of Management and Budget to discuss goals and priorities for the next three biennia.

NDSU hosted the USDA ARS leadership including Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young (Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics and USDA's Chief Scientist) and Dr. Simon Liu (ARS Administrator) in early February. The delegation discussed ways to strengthen partnerships at NDSU and across campus.

Envision 2035 from the ND State Board of Higher Education is co-chaired by President Cook and State Board of Higher Education Member, Jeffry Volk for the subcommittee on Agriculture to oversee the strategic planning process. The subcommittee includes John Nordgaard (representing SBARE), Jim Bahm (representing the ND Ag Coalition), Greg Lardy, and other faculty from NDUS colleges.

Administrative Update from Lynette Flage, Associate Director NDSU Extension

Dr. Flage gave an update on the NSF (National Science Foundation) Engine awarded to NDSU around precision agriculture and agriculture tech for the next 10 years.

Dr. Flage gave several 4-H updates. The original goal was to increase participation by 25% by 2030. After one-year, kids in 4-H clubs increased by 9%, kids going to 4-H camp increased by 5% and total youth reached increased by 40.3%. Overall, one in five kids in North Dakota have been reached by 4-H. Next goals are to maintain the numbers.

The 4-H Leaders Showmanship program at the State Fair will be Saturday July 27. It has historically been a successful event, where SBARE members show animals alongside the 4-H students.

Dr. Flage announced, along with Drs. Lardy and Casey, that Dr. Sam Markell, professor and plant pathologist, was selected for the Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Lectureship Award. She noted his excellent outreach on his research and participation in Extension. This award honors outstanding faculty members at NDSU.

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

Dr. Casey expanded on previous updates of the upcoming Governor’s Strategy Review Meeting, NSF Engines, and NDSU ARS visit. He announced that Dr. Hollie Mackey, associate professor of Education at NDSU, will be the Interim CSO of FARMS. He noted that there are budget exercises happening current and will visit the NSF in DC for a kickoff meeting.

Comments from Sarah Lovas, SBARE Chair

Chair Lovas outlined the bundles for the previously discussed initiatives. She noted the reviewing of the bundles for Agricultural Experiment Station, NDSU Extension, and discussion of capital improvement requests.

Prioritization Process

Bundles were presented with the help of AES and Extension Administration. The Board reviewed the bundles and had several ranking and voting processes to identify the top priorities for the SBARE.

MOTION: Larry Hoffmann made a motion to accept the ranking of the AES Capital Improvements list as presented. Seconded by Senator Jerry Klein. Motion passed.

MOTION: Doug Bichler made a motion to accept the ranking the content of the Extension list as presented. Seconded by Pam Gulleson. Motion passed.

MOTION: John Dhuyvetter made a motion to accept the ranking of the AES list as presented and keep the list as presented. Seconded by Pam Gulleson. Scott Ouradnik made a friendly amendment to insert of cut line under priority number 4. Mark Urquhart seconded this idea, and the friendly amendment was accepted by John Dhuyvetter. The amended motion passed.

MOTION: Senator Jerry Klein made a motion to move the toxicologist position from `Livestock: Precision Management & Animal Health’ to become its own line item at the number three ranking spot on the Agricultural Experiment Station initiative list. Larry Hoffmann seconded the motion. Motion passed.

MOTION: Jim Bahm made a motion to keep the Agricultural Experiment Station ranked initiatives as presented. Motion seconded by Scott Ouradnik. The motion was then amended by Scott Ouradnik to put a cut line under number six of the Agricultural Experiment station. Seconded by Mark Urquhart. The amendment passed and the amended motion passed.

MOTION: Julie Zikmund made a motion to include a one-time 1.5 million request for deferred maintenance for the Agricultural Experiment Station. Senator Klein seconded. Motion passed.

Chair Lovas announced that there will be no need for the March 7 meeting.

MOTION: Doug Bichler made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Senator Jerry Klein. The meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Erin McCall