NDSU Agriculture Advocates for Budget Priorities

NDSU Agriculture has outlined its budget priorities for the upcoming biennium, emphasizing the importance of sustaining agricultural research, outreach programs and workforce development across the state. The State Board of Agriculture Research and Education (SBARE) sets those budget priorities. More information about SBARE can be found here: https://www.ndsu.edu/vpag/sbare/ 

Greg Lardy, NDSU’s Joe and Norma Peltier Vice President for Agriculture and the director of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and NDSU Extension, testified on Tuesday, March 11, before the North Dakota House Appropriations – Government Operations Committee, reinforcing the critical role of NDSU Extension and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station in supporting North Dakota communities and the state’s agriculture sector. David Boehm, director of the Northern Crops Institute, and Denver Tolliver, director of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, also provided testimony on the bill. 

The North Dakota Senate passed SB2020 on Tuesday, Feb. 11, by a unanimous vote of 46-0, with one senator absent. The bill provides funding for the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, the Northern Crops Institute, NDSU Extension and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station.

Before the legislative session, the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education held listening sessions to gather input on the most pressing needs of stakeholders and citizens from across the state. The board carefully considered these recommendations and set forth budget priorities, some of which were included in the Senate-passed version of the bill.

The bill, in line with Governor Armstrong’s executive budget recommendation, includes 3 percent merit-based salary increases for employees each year of the biennium while maintaining fully funded family health insurance benefits. However, it also contains budget reductions, including a 3 percent base budget cut for the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and a 4.7 percent base budget reduction for NDSU Extension.

Despite these cuts, the bill includes several key investments aimed at strengthening agricultural research and infrastructure. Among them is $275,000 to hire a veterinary toxicology resident for the Senator Bill Bowman Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, identified as SBARE’s third-highest programmatic priority. Additionally, $620,000 from the Strategic Investment and Infrastructure Fund is allocated to complete the building project at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site, SBARE’s top priority for capital improvements. 

Other major appropriations include $950,000 in SIIF funds and $1.65 million in special fund authorization to construct a new seed conditioning plant at the Langdon Research Extension Center and $1.5675 million in general funds to build machine sheds at the Dickinson, Central Grasslands and Carrington Research Extension Centers.

Additional funding provisions in the bill allow for special fund authorization to support renovations and expansions at the NDSU Swine Research Unit and an addition to the Jack Dalrymple Agricultural Research Complex. Other investments include $400,000 in SIIF funds and $600,000 in special fund authorization to complete the Nesson Valley Irrigation facility near Williston, as well as $200,000 in special fund authorization to complete a machine shed at the Williston Research Extension Center. 

The bill also removes nearly five full-time positions from the ND Agricultural Experiment Station that have remained vacant for over two years and provides additional operating support for the Northern Crops Institute, including special fund authorization to purchase an air classification system.

With the bill now in the hands of the North Dakota House of Representatives, NDSU Agriculture and its stakeholders are focusing on the legislative process in the House. The first budget hearing before the Government Operations Division of the House Appropriations Committee took place on March 11 with additional committee work taking place on March 19. 

If the House makes changes to the Senate’s version of the bill, a conference committee composed of three senators and three representatives will work to reconcile any differences. Once a final version is agreed upon and passed by both chambers, the bill will be sent to Governor Armstrong for approval.

As discussions continue, NDSU Agriculture leaders remain committed to advocating for funding that supports agricultural research, innovation and education across North Dakota.