Meeting Minutes June 19, 2024
June 19, 2024 Meeting Minutes | Fargo, ND
The State Board of Agricultural Research and Education met for a regular meeting on June 19, 2024. Present: Jim Bahm, Tom Bodine, Pres. David Cook, John Dhuyvetter, Pam Gulleson, Larry Hoffmann, Greg Lardy, Sarah Lovas, John Nordgaard, Scott Ouradnik, and Julie Zikmund. Absent: Doug Bichler, Commissioner Doug Goehring, Sen. Jerry Klein, Rep. Alisa Mitskog, and Mark Urquhart.
Chair Lovas called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m.
Approval of April 11, 2024 Meeting Minutes
MOTION: John Nordgaard made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Julie Zikmund seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Administrative Update from David Cook, President of NDSU
President Cook gave updates about the Bolley Agricultural Laboratory groundbreaking, the Peltier Complex grand opening, and the removal of thousands of square feet of deferred maintenance from buildings on campus. NDSU welcomed over 1,800 Future Farmers of America (FFA) participants this summer. He also noted that 1,988 students graduated in the 2023-24 academic year.
Administrative Update from Greg Lardy, VP for Agriculture, Dean, Director, Director
Dr. Lardy reported that Dr. Casey will be allocating half of his time to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Food systems Adapted for Resiliency and Maximized Security (FARMS) Engine. There will be an internal search for an interim assistant director for AES to backfill Dr. Casey’s vacancy, as well another position of interim assistant director of AES field operations to work with the NDSU Research Extension Centers (REC) network.
Dr. Lardy announced that there has been a creation of an Ag Innovation Corridor to brand the Fargo-Moorhead area as an ag tech hub.
Administrative Update from Lynette Flage, Associate Director of NDSU Extension
Dr. Flage announced that John Dhuyvetter was selected for a second term as the Extension appointee on SBARE. She noted the 4-H Showmanship event on the morning of July 27 following the July 26 meeting in Minot and encourages the board to attend. The 4-H Youth Conference is currently going on in Fargo and is put on by the 4-H Ambassadors.
Dr. Flage updated the board on several retirement and hiring events. By the end of fall 2024, Extension will have hired 18 new specialists. Interviews will begin soon for a FARMS Workforce Coordinator extension position.
Dr. Flage announced several retirements: Dr. Dave Franzen – Extension Soil Health, School of Natural Resource Sciences; Dr. Ken Hellevang – Extension Ag Engineer, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering; Greg Endres - Cropping Systems Specialist, Carrington Research Extension Center; and Andrew Thostenson – Pesticide Program Specialist. Dr. Brady Goettl replaced Dr. Franzen in May and searches for the other vacancies are underway.
Dr. Flage noted that there were extension mill levy votes in five counties in the North Dakota Primary Election held on June 11.
Administrative Update from Frank Casey, Associate Director of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station
Dr. Casey updated the board on his new responsibilities as the NDSU representative for NSF FARMS Engine initiatives. He will work in concert with the other partners, with half of his time now allocated for the NDSU core partner for R&D lead. FARMS hired Dr. Hollie Mackey as CEO. She and several other team members will be housed in Morrill Hall on the NDSU campus.
The creation of the Food, Energy, and Water Security (FEWS) initiative was made possible by USDA programmatic funding. This initiative will allow for collaboration and visibility of activities and results of ag research in North Dakota and at NDSU.
Dr. Casey also is chairing the search for the associate dean of the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources (CAFSNR) and hopes to have in-person candidate interviews in September. Dr. Carrie Hammer has been serving as the interim associate dean since June 2023.
Comments from Sarah Lovas, SBARE Chair
Chair Lovas congratulated NDSU on the groundbreaking of the Bolley Agricultural Laboratory and the Peltier Complex grand opening. She thanked the board for their contributions to the success of these projects.
She noted that the primary election has been completed and encouraged the board to continue to advocate for AES and Extension ahead of the November general election.
REC Construction Project Updates
Dr. Lardy reviewed with the board a list of the current REC construction updates.
Acknowledgement of Incoming and Outgoing Members
In appreciation for his eight years of dedicated service to SBARE, an engraved Bison statue was presented to Larry Hoffmann and he was thanked on behalf of the board.
Chair Lovas welcomed Mike Clemens, in attendance, as the new Ag Coalition appointee starting July 1.
Review of Field Days Schedule and Assignments for Attending
Chair Lovas discussed with the board the NDSU REC field days calendar and reviewed SBARE member attendance.
Presentations
- Dr. Sandro Steinbach, associate professor and director for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies, Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics: The Role of the Federal Policy Center
- Dr. Sam Funk, Williston Research Extension Center (WREC) Director: Review of the Nesson Valley Project
- A sub-committee of Dr. Funk, John Dhuyvetter, and John Nordgaard (chair) was created to further review this topic to revisit at the next meeting.
- Dr. Miranda Meehan, associate professor and livestock environmental stewardship specialist, Department of Animal Sciences: Virtual Fencing/Precision Grazing
- Mike Ellingson, Facilities Management Director: Bolley Field Lab and Richard Offerdahl ’65 Engineering Complex Update
Lunch followed for the board.
MOTION: Larry Hoffmann made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Jim Bahm seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
Other events: Tour of the Peltier Complex
Respectfully submitted,
Erin McCall