Frequently Asked Questions

No. Research supported through the Agricultural Research Fund (ARF) is intended to benefit North Dakota agriculture and its stakeholders. As a result, research findings and outcomes are expected to remain in the public domain and be available for public dissemination and use.

Subject to the policies of participating public institutions and entities, ownership rights to products, processes, technologies, or services developed through an ARF-funded project remain with the grant recipient.

Applicants should complete the required ARF application materials and submit their proposal electronically as a PDF file by the deadline identified in the annual Call for Proposals. A call for proposals is typically issued each August. Applicants are encouraged to contact the ARF coordinator with questions regarding eligibility, funding categories, or proposal development before submitting an application.

Applicants must choose the funding category that best aligns with their project:

• Major Crop Research
• Animal Agriculture Research
• New and Emerging Crop Research

Proposals will be evaluated and ranked within the selected category by the appropriate Grant Review Committee.

To ensure a fair and efficient review process, all proposals must follow the prescribed ARF application format.

Proposal requirements include:

• Maximum of five typed pages for the project narrative.
• Minimum font size of 10-point.
• Single- or double-spaced formatting permitted.
• Standard 8.5" × 11" page size.
• Additional supporting documents and attachments may be included as allowed by the application instructions.
• A completed budget form must accompany the application.
• Applications must be submitted electronically as a PDF document.

Each proposal is reviewed by the applicable ARF Grant Review Committee. Committees evaluate proposals based on factors such as:

• Importance of the problem being addressed.
• Expected impact on North Dakota agriculture.
• Innovation and generation of new information.
• Scientific and technical feasibility.
• Matching funds requirements, when applicable.

Funding decisions made by the review committees are final and are not subject to appeal.

A conflict of interest exists when a Grant Review Committee member has a personal, financial, or business interest that could influence, or appear to influence, their evaluation of a proposal. Examples include:

• Conducting sponsored research on property they own or control.
• Being related to a proposal applicant.
• Having an ownership interest in a business submitting the proposal.
• Receiving direct financial benefit from grant funds awarded through the proposal.

Ownership of less than 5% equity in a publicly traded company or cooperative is not considered a conflict of interest.

Committee members must disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest. A member with a conflict must abstain from voting on the affected proposal unless all other committee members present unanimously agree to allow participation. All proposals involving disclosed conflicts are subsequently reviewed by SBARE, with the conflict fully disclosed before a final determination is made.

Any conflict that arises after funding approval must be disclosed to both the Grant Review Committee and SBARE as soon as it becomes known. SBARE and the committee will determine the appropriate course of action to maintain the integrity of the funding process.

Questions regarding proposal eligibility, submission requirements, funding categories, or application procedures should be directed to the Agricultural Research Fund coordinator listed in the annual Call for Proposals and application materials.