Meeting Minutes February 22, 2021
February 22, 2021 Meeting Minutes | Zoom
The State Board of Agricultural Research and Education met for a regular meeting on February 22, 2021 via Zoom platform. Present: Jim Bahm, Doug Bichler, Mark Birdsall, Dean Bresciani, Lance Gulleson, Larry Hoffmann, Greg Lardy, Sarah Lovas, Dean Wehri and Julie Zikmund. Absent: John Dhuyvetter, Rep. Tracy Boe, Doug Goehring, Sen. Jerry Klein and Brian Leier.
Chair Birdsall called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. He welcomed everyone in attendance and asked those attending online to make introductions.
Approval of November 16, 2020 Meeting Minutes
MOTION: Larry Hoffmann made motion to approve the minutes as presented. Seconded by Sarah Lovas. Motion carried.
Administrative Updates from Dean Bresciani, President of NDSU
President Bresciani noted that the legislative session is going well and there is support for higher education and research.
Administrative Updates from Greg Lardy, VP for Agricultural Affairs, Dean, Director, Director
Dr. Lardy advised that he was in last stages of finalizing the Ag Comm director position and a public announcement soon will be made regarding the hire. He provided an update on recent searches and noted that some administrative searches are on hold until after the legislative session is complete. These include chair of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, head of the Department of Animal Sciences, and director of the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center.
In early December, a successful Giving Day was held to raise funds. The NDSU Ag development team put together a plan and raised $145k, up a considerable amount from previous years. They are applauded for their work.
Administrative Update from Lynette Flage, Associate Director of NDSU Extension
Dr. Flage advised that the interim assistant director position in Family and Community Wellness was filled by Dr. Carrie Johnson. She also noted that after Brad Codgill’s retirement, Dr. Leigh Ann Skurupey is serving as interim chair of the Center for 4-H Youth Development.
Every 5 years NDSU Extension completes a statewide needs assessment. The assessment was completed in November 2020, and the final report highlights from the community forums were shared.
A post Covid task force has been formed and is made up of individuals from across the state. They will look to see what went well – how the pandemic was handled both internally and externally. From those results, a determination can be made on positive ways to reach the needs of clientele as well as best manage systems internally.
Comments from Mark Birdsall, SBARE Chair
Chair Birdsall echoed comments of President Bresciani, that we have had successful hearings so far. He thanked the SBARE board for their effort in compiling the list of priorities that were well-received.
Legislative Process Update
Dr. Lardy reviewed key information from the Legislative session. Overall, he was pleased with how the session has gone so far.
On February 19, a Joint House and Senate Ag Committee meeting was held. A presentation was given in a different format, which included a series of speakers providing video presentations that told the story about how NDSU Extension and the ND Agricultural Experiment Station personnel are involved in getting food from the “field to plate.” This innovative format told the story from the perspective of a variety of research scientists and Extension personnel. Ag Communication staff were commended on their efforts to pull it all together. The recording of that session can be viewed at https://video.ndlegis.gov/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20210219/-1/19288.
March 9 will be the first hearing for the House Appropriations Committee.
A revised budget forecast is expected March 16.
MOTION: Sarah Lovas moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Julie Zikmund. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 2:06 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Melissa Schwengler