[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6122395,"mediaKeyId","2694965-bdec31b8d085c0623e052a9b057cfeff","parentId",2694965,"title","Northern Crops Institute requests equipment; Agronomy Seed Farm remains self-funded","audioSeconds",206,"startMs",12320000,"endMs",12526000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694965-bdec31b8d085c0623e052a9b057cfeff&start=12320&end=12526","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694965-bdec31b8d085c0623e052a9b057cfeff/thumbnail_12320000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6122395/North-Dakota/Northern-Crops-Institute-requests-equipment-Agronomy-Seed-Farm-remains-self-funded","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122395-bf4141905471689a0dacc179ac7122c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206170&Signature=IefvUP-7Ah8XQvBpbFKS8h3aDzbs2FIywUtXezxdGRq3uAOlaP9-nmHSLHir0pFBa6s7~8d-tpHEjTouCQxE5SaI9I95k9AIik6364tYQGaB1ubUyRFpuyU4OnVsAGnVDHPdvvWQP~EZTj~L0YFFOw~ah55fjzCkYsx0puHwaLgKH2N9OE7ZumS4wqUy9Ltm0qhG~WXdaKXyrod7LeklCRsu2RenjO0ylvvOXLI42L87w7PR0OzZWCPfRwX9I5WA4afsKOyk6-zlP0oeceX3al-t~phvaJ4s0dwKfgHh2W-004OXbkkmBgVNUfrw8vZY6fLsOjv9jgKda2eHlVQ5HA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Appropriations committee received briefings on the Northern Crops Institute (NCI) and the Agronomy Seed Farm.

David Boehm, director of NCI, asked for $350,000 in special‑fund authority to purchase and install a protein‑extraction and fractionation system that separates protein, starch and fiber from cereal grains and oilseeds. Boehm said the equipment would support pilot‑scale processing that private food companies, commodity groups and regional universities could use; work would be charged on a fee‑for‑service basis. “To get this piece of equipment we would probably have to have some donations up front,” Boehm told the committee, and afterwards the institute would charge clients for daily use or processing work.

Committee members noted NCI supports multi‑state clients (North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana) and that the unit’s services are often used to develop commercially scalable food or feed products. The Senate included an operating increase to cover utilities and the institute had asked for a larger operating figure to reflect Peltier Complex occupancy.

On the Agronomy Seed Farm budget, agency staff said the operation is funded with special funds and had no general‑fund changes; the Senate version was acceptable to agency staff.

Ending: The committee accepted the Senate approach for the seed farm and asked NCI to pursue donor and fee‑for‑service plans while the appropriation request proceeds through conference.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations - Government Operations Division Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 8:23 AM - 11:59 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The committee reviewed a $350,000 request for a protein‑extraction system at the Northern Crops Institute (NCI) to support pilot‑scale food and feed fractionation; NCI said the device would be fee‑for‑service and may require upfront donations. The Agronomy Seed Farm submitted no general‑fund requests and operates on special funds.","taxTitle","Appropriations - Government Operations Division, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28887,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6122398,"Committee weighs fundraising, bid shortfalls and scope changes for Nesson Valley, Williston and other research facility projects",7086,3238000,10324000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694965-bdec31b8d085c0623e052a9b057cfeff&start=3238&end=10324","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694965-bdec31b8d085c0623e052a9b057cfeff/thumbnail_3238000.jpg","/articles/6122398/North-Dakota/Committee-weighs-fundraising-bid-shortfalls-and-scope-changes-for-Nesson-Valley-Williston-and-other-research-facility-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122398-3b2eb33435ed0a86795f81c77a706554/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206170&Signature=MrTswUFWGEOoS1~GidQpOO-YcQr~KLDsCoE7alb~IW8R6MY~pwTmjznV0kSfif8IJX0fpUctxZA6fpOWgvksr6JrtPF4-jUjLDOnAAd8x0C9kcC-mVrdFUPTTANFS-FSKKIZPI5p9CGSud889YZLvHaybHAP1dmtyG-ixr3kUQQCZS9E2e089TDpxRqxfLFDHFFU7dTP-8bMf8RjSHuCXQTxSuQzTRGu8eAHytOVekH9mVF76s8nYxcB3AxGjCeyILDtFgJSIQPZJJOuKVDvLjOrduwuZ4fCd6xlAwA14R8wQBW1dw3-eZEAXVYpYE5BwfGYy1MUjOzD-h5Bkf-~3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawmakers reviewed one‑time capital requests and construction issues at NDSU research locations, including Nesson Valley, Williston and main‑campus facilities.

Greg Lardy told the committee the Nesson Valley irrigation research project failed to receive a successful base bid during the '23–'25 biennium: the two base bids came in above the $1.7 million appropriated. He said SBARE recommended carrying over the appropriation, changing scope and adding special‑fund authority and local fundraising to make a successful bid possible. Lardy warned that prescriptive language in the Senate bill (section 11) prescribing a larger footprint could increase operating costs and hamper bidding flexibility.

On Williston, Lardy said the agency has “in our hands the $500,000 that has been raised so far” for a greenhouse project and is evaluating whether the project can proceed given current costs. The Senate included some special‑fund authority for several projects and allowed private fundraising for others: the Senate bill included authority for a privately funded $6 million swine facility renovation and $3.25 million in special‑fund authority for a main‑campus greenhouse addition, all to be raised locally.

Committee members urged simpler, less‑prescriptive language to permit alternate bid add‑ons and avoid re‑engaging expensive architectural work. Representative Pyle proposed striking overly detailed prescriptions and instead authorizing a base bid with alternates and a smaller heated shop as needed. The committee asked agency staff and Grant (budget staff) to craft amended language that balances state investment with private fundraising and local priorities before forwarding to conference.

Ending: Agency staff will rework project scope language for committee review to improve chances of a successful, cost‑effective bid process and to clarify local fundraising authority and emergency clause requests for privately funded projects.","Agency staff told the committee several construction projects exceeded appropriations or received no successful base bids; the committee discussed carrying over funds, adding special-fund authority for local fundraising and revising prescriptive project language to improve bid success.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6122402,"House committee hears NDSU lab testing, HPAI impacts and requests for toxicology and epidemiology hires",722,3866000,4588000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694965-bdec31b8d085c0623e052a9b057cfeff&start=3866&end=4588","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694965-bdec31b8d085c0623e052a9b057cfeff/thumbnail_3866000.jpg","/articles/6122402/North-Dakota/House-committee-hears-NDSU-lab-testing-HPAI-impacts-and-requests-for-toxicology-and-epidemiology-hires","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122402-e1597ac110c454b58e4a73f429d7baf7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206170&Signature=iU4no6P8qLChqr9xUFMJSZjdpqN73sZ~E4JfPYIk7KsOIT9Qg35uTxN6ZLgrs9YRgsSf-OHdNVvK0-mgb3pFqnm5HXn42583kRQPlCeStKWQ4tlqxWdlot3H~7XkyjN2gmVUXwLgQDg7VvHUwG7X8xiO~0GtSTr-SnDEh-BnY8ynGAMwn9AqJQnc23jUL4-pRFtW~ctPJv0hsrDIrfglkaHaLMOQFs8psUOz~ZzPb4mSWOhkymKuhg~IB45F8oPPjsNG3EL2QpZadPray3d8eD4ddmhnF3R9kY8-gm--TKBeT8wTA~eVXAafxosMo5bZQoUNxBExwS4aVvfzM3vKVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members asked NDSU officials about the veterinary diagnostic lab’s role in testing for highly pathogenic avian influenza and other livestock diseases, and about requests for two positions: a toxicology resident and a livestock epidemiologist.

Greg Lardy told the committee the veterinary diagnostic lab does test for avian influenza and that a local non‑negative result must be reported and sent to USDA’s National Animal Health Laboratory Network for confirmation. He explained federal response practice: “the typical, procedure for the federal government when a commercial flock is infected is that they go through a depopulation of that particular flock.” He added that depopulation is followed by cleaning and sanitizing before repopulation can occur, and that depopulation imposes both financial and emotional costs on producers.

The Senate included $275,000 in its version of SB 2020 to fund a veterinary toxicology resident position at the diagnostic lab; Lardy said that position would support assays for mycotoxins, ergot and other toxins and would be located at the lab on the main campus. Lardy also described an epidemiologist request that Extension ranked highly: the epidemiologist would develop educational programs for livestock and poultry disease reduction, and help with population‑level disease studies; that epidemiology position did not receive Senate funding in the bill.

Committee members pressed for clarity about human health risk after HPAI detections. Lardy said human cases to date have been concentrated among people with underlying conditions and reaffirmed that biosecurity and education are the primary mitigation measures for commercial operations and the public.

Ending: The committee signaled interest in the toxicology and epidemiology needs and will weigh operating and hiring costs as budget negotiations continue.","NDSU staff told lawmakers the diagnostic lab can test for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and discussed the financial and emotional costs of depopulation in commercial flocks. The Senate funded a veterinary toxicology resident but did not include an extension epidemiologist the agency had prioritized.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6122406,"ND Agricultural Weather Network (NDON) cited for farm decision tools and local road management",189,1662000,1851000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694965-bdec31b8d085c0623e052a9b057cfeff&start=1662&end=1851","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694965-bdec31b8d085c0623e052a9b057cfeff/thumbnail_1662000.jpg","/articles/6122406/North-Dakota/ND-Agricultural-Weather-Network-NDON-cited-for-farm-decision-tools-and-local-road-management","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122406-43e4bd06ffc47153f6184623ed1abe10/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206170&Signature=YyjVw6xofilYDh1JJrZLF8Ia24BpxTAWBzf~5kuQxKVu2MAS2IsjV3umrqBx5SUmC-eiN2jQJ9XGyZRQ4Ig0H4WbjBQXHAKt2bdJUc1AQ-GJDqQKH8xkDrOnTYANTJxTtx81StHlbHL3Ufny6rLyteKUP2kXnXpXZznndfSouutJUtzSXteDWO3apKhk5O8-ozu8g4o2u0FL5kQdZJsciaqSbvUO7CbhIVbdnIrd1AxlNNhKr3RaRk40bFf20ZGGBrdY5QMxwy~d3JGGufzqD-2oU~uqQ49LhJr--DOTOVZYPaciyuaVaqE~ueM4QlUWAEUh6qJjVOGtvSqraNaPIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawmakers heard that the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDON) provides weather data and applications used by farmers, ranchers, counties and the energy sector.

Greg Lardy, speaking for NDSU, described NDON as “a North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network. So it's a mesonet of about, over 200 weather stations, across the state of North Dakota,” automated to collect hourly data. He told the committee the network supports tools that help farmers plan fungicide and pesticide applications and that the network “is free.”

Members described practical uses in agriculture and road maintenance. Representative Brandenburg noted the network’s value to spraying certification and pesticide timing. Representatives and staff detailed an application in the Bakken oil region: mesonet stations let county road managers target closures to specific mile markers instead of shutting an entire county road when storms are localized, reducing disruption and maintenance costs.

Lardy also said the agency upgraded NDON’s website and analytics with legislative appropriations, hired analysts for Endon (the mesonet unit) and is integrating drone and imagery data into plant‑breeding programs. The committee inquired about funding sources; Lardy said NDON receives federal grants for some upgrades (including Upper Missouri Basin snowpack sensors) and that state or private partners occasionally provide support. He offered to provide a funding breakdown on request.

Ending: Committee members praised the network’s public-facing tools and asked staff to provide additional detail on funding sources and potential private partnerships for future upgrades.","Committee members were briefed on NDON (North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network), its 200+ automated stations, free public tools and uses ranging from pesticide timing to pinpointing localized road closures in the Bakken region.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6122409,"NDSU director outlines research, extension impacts as committee weighs budget cuts and restorations",625,869000,1494000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694965-bdec31b8d085c0623e052a9b057cfeff&start=869&end=1494","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694965-bdec31b8d085c0623e052a9b057cfeff/thumbnail_869000.jpg","/articles/6122409/North-Dakota/NDSU-director-outlines-research-extension-impacts-as-committee-weighs-budget-cuts-and-restorations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122409-6e9eb174feb01834def2f9944cc8a200/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206170&Signature=eeZqg1pIhKHUqn1AHZu7Wg8Z7STVb3SzSyAJL4-Zp0PSyNWY76vSAQP2EdqINv1TNuM7QneWdbCl6aQvXtaGf6GRol41OHMb5UF0duCpjd34tUSvUVVEVYCX6acXYWGwmS4azEvekVFyrYHxIJtm1sa2wTKgO-trLyeuN6shjfFR8CzL8My~JDpd9ra8bsD6e9NpI-FdqwZib2VCzLU6R7i6YCDZQ6UFkGfT0xVBVL6ejlSnDqhkgFopoHgLXhOxOzDMzVbpWEeeD5n~Ty~vhVy-XK3fQ7r8tZRPZk4YPgc8ic2WMp~iYB4Gmg9HY5spwKjb6d8ISbRLtNkV848ElQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Munson and members of the House Appropriations - Government Operations Division heard a briefing from Greg Lardy of NDSU Agriculture on Senate Bill 2020, the Research and Extension appropriation package, and how proposed changes would affect the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and NDSU Extension.

Lardy said the experiment station and extension hold long-term programs that underpin crop breeding, pest management and youth education. “In front of you, you have a handout that we prepared, based on the list of questions that were asked last week,” he told the committee, and he highlighted examples such as NDSU-developed Durham wheat varieties and Extension’s pesticide safety trainings.

The committee focused on three budget areas: a 3% base general-fund reduction proposed in the governor’s executive recommendation and reflected in the Senate version, removal of several long-vacant FTEs, and targeted additions the Senate included. Lardy said the 3% reduction and operating cuts would constrain the agency’s ability to respond between legislative sessions, and he asked the committee to consider restoring those general-fund dollars.

Lawmakers pressed for detail about the vacant positions the Senate removed. Lardy said the agency removed 4.98 FTEs that had been vacant more than 24 months; those included scientist and research-support positions across plant science, animal science and soils. He said units are asked every time a vacancy occurs whether a position should be refilled as previously written or repurposed to higher priorities.

The Senate added funding for a veterinary toxicology resident position but did not fund an epidemiologist that Extension ranked highly. Lardy reminded members that many hires and research efforts are stakeholder-driven and that federal grants are an important, but variable, part of the agencies’ portfolios.

Committee members also discussed recent appropriations from 2023 and how the new Field Laboratory (to be completed in 2026) and other facilities will shape future staffing needs. Representative Brandenburg and others said county extension agents remain critical to local programming and 4-H youth outreach.

The committee agreed to restore portions of the general fund at this stage and to carry some items forward for conference work; no formal votes on the bill were recorded during the session covered by the transcript.

Ending: Members said they will also review related requests in the extension worksheet and coordinate funding priorities for FTEs, operating support and one-time equipment or capital requests before final action.","NDSU’s Greg Lardy told the House Appropriations Government Operations Division how reductions and targeted hires in Senate Bill 2020 would affect breeding programs, county extension services and long-term research. Lawmakers questioned vacant FTEs, a 3% base budget cut and which positions the Senate funded or left out.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Northern Crops Institute requests equipment; Agronomy Seed Farm remains self-funded

Committee weighs fundraising, bid shortfalls and scope changes for Nesson Valley, Williston and other research facility projects

House committee hears NDSU lab testing, HPAI impacts and requests for toxicology and epidemiology hires

ND Agricultural Weather Network (NDON) cited for farm decision tools and local road management

NDSU director outlines research, extension impacts as committee weighs budget cuts and restorations