# 1 ranked: Crop Disease Management

$220,000 Total General Fund Increase

$54,000 salary and fringe benefits, 0.3 new FTE, area specialist, CREC
$126,000 salary and fringe benefits, 0.7 new FTE, area specialist, LREC
$40,000 Operating

The magnitude and consistency of crop yield and quality losses due to plant diseases is a persistent problem, and it continues to increase. The significance of disease losses to crop diversity is threatening the viability to sustain and expand the agricultural economy of the central and eastern regions of North Dakota. Two area pest management specialists, one at the Carrington REC and the other at the Langdon REC, are needed to provide information to area growers affected by crop diseases. (Complements Experiment Station initiative 5.)

# 2 ranked: Extension Operating Support

$300,000 Total General Fund Increase

Costs continue to increase both in operating expenses and technological changes. Travel costs continually increase, and today’s workers depend on smart-phone and other technologies to be effective in their work. The NDSU Extension Service has area specialists housed at various Research Extension Centers and other locations across the state. Extension funds provide operating and equipment support for these positions. This funding level has been at $16,000 per FTE per year since about 1992. Operating support needs to be increased by $4,000 per FTE per year to cover increasing communication, office, travel and programming costs.

# 3 ranked: 4-H Leadership Education and Camping

$270,000 Total General Fund Increase

$180,000 salary and fringe benefits, 1.0 new FTE, state specialist, NCREC
$50,000 salary support, no new FTE, summer camp staffing
$40,000 operating

4-H programs serve more than 40% of North Dakota’s youth, and, in many rural areas, 4-H is the only youth program beyond public schools. In addition to developing technical knowledge, 4-Hers gain life skills. The North Dakota State Fair in Minot and the Western 4-H Camp near Washburn are venues at which significant 4-H activities take place each year. A state 4-H specialist located at the North Central REC in Minot is needed to provide leadership for these activities. This specialist would also provide educational support to programs that lead to youth becoming an integral part of the civic governance and decision-making processes, both in 4-H and in the broader community. Summer salary support for college students to serve as instructors and counselors at 4-H camp is needed. Internships would not only provide a unique training experience for the college students but would also address the staffing needs for an effective 4-H camp program.

# 4 ranked: Institute for Agribusiness Enterprise and Rural Development

$480,000 Total General Fund Increase

$400,000 salary and fringe benefits, 2.0 new FTE, state specialists, Extension Center for Community Vitality
$80,000 operating

North Dakota has great potential for converting commodities and agricultural processing co-products into higher value products. The development of this industry would stimulate rural economies. Healthy rural communities are dependent upon many factors, but core to any community is its local economy. The role of the two positions listed would be to develop educational materials and deliver programs needed by entrepreneurs, existing business owners and community leaders to extend and expand their capacities to take advantage of new markets, technologies and business opportunities. This institute would incorporate and expand the existing Institute for Business and Industry Development in the Center for Community Vitality.

# 5 ranked: Agents-in-Training and Interns

$600,000 Total General Fund Increase

$500,000 salary and fringe benefits, 5.0 new FTE, agents-in-training located throughout the state
$100,000, salary support, no new FTE, 5 college internships for summer programming

A key strength of Extension work lies with county Extension agents where the Extension offices serve as the “front door” to the land-grant university system. Working with local interest groups, agents identify issues then develop community-based learning programs to address those needs. Extension agents are hired with college degrees in the areas of agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development, and community development. However, the skill set needed for successful Extension work goes well beyond subject matter discipline training. These skills are unique to Extension work and are best learned by working directly with an experienced Extension agent. Support for five agents-in-training and five summer internships to be located throughout the state would greatly enhance NDSU Extension Service’s ability to recruit and retain quality Extension agents.

#6 ranked: Family Nutrition Program (FNP)

$300,000 Total General Fund Increase

$300,000 salary and fringe benefits, 2.0 new FTE, state specialists

The FNP helps limited-resource families make more healthful food choices on a limited budget. A recent cost/benefit analysis of nutrition education shows an $8.82 reduction of health care costs for every dollar invested in this program. The federal government provides a dollar-for-dollar match through USDA for every non-federal public dollar that the state invests in this program. Here in North Dakota, the non-federal match is provided by in-kind support that is limited and complicated. Consequently, North Dakota is losing significant federal dollars from USDA because of our inability to provide the non-federal match. This state investment would guarantee another $300,000 from USDA. These funds would be used to partially cover salaries and would allow the program to be delivered to more counties in the state.

# 7 ranked: Enhancing Livestock Development

$220,000 Total General Fund Increase

$54,000 salary and fringe benefits, 0.3 new FTE, area specialist, CGREC
$126,000 salary and fringe benefits, 0.7 new FTE, area specialist, DREC
$40,000 operating

There are many driving forces behind the interest in growing our state’s livestock industry. They include the desire of many agricultural producers to grow their existing enterprises and/or to diversify their operations; utilization of potential feedstuffs that are presently shipped to other states for their livestock operations; opportunities to enhance production of feedstuffs to service a growing North Dakota industry; use of co-products emerging from the rapidly expanding bioenergy/bioproducts enterprises as feedstuffs; and utilization of grazing capacity in range and managed areas. Proper management of grazing systems also holds the potential for increased livestock production. Additional Extension specialists who will continually work with colleagues and industry to evaluate opportunities and provide information that can be used for timely decision-making are needed at the Central Grasslands REC and the Dickinson REC. (Complements Experiment Station initiative 10.)

# 8 ranked: Agronomy Technical Support

$150,000 Total General Fund Increase

$150,000 salary and fringe benefits, 1.0 new FTE, technician, shared by Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology

NDSU Extension Service agronomists provide educational leadership to Extension agents, producers and industry clientele on all facets of crop production. Much applied research and demonstration activity on various production practices is under taken to localize the information for North Dakota. Additional technical support is needed in the plant sciences and plant pathology departments to assist Extension specialists with these efforts.

# 9 ranked: Salinity (State Soil Conservation Committee Request)

$220,000 Total General Fund Increase

$180,000 salary and fringe benefits, 1.0 new FTE, state specialist, Bismarck
$40,000 operating

Soil chemical, physical and biological properties underlie all cropping management systems and decisions made by agricultural producers. Saline- and sodic-affected soils are increasing in North Dakota and are estimated to be as high as 25 percent (12,600,000 ac) of the agricultural land in the state. Approximately two million acres of cropland are affected by salinity in the Red River Valley alone. Many land managers are considering expensive land modifications, such as sub-surface drainage, as a means of dealing with this issue. An Extension state specialist is needed at Bismarck to coordinate and support North Dakota Soil Conservation District personnel and individual producers in identifying the causes and solutions for salinity and sodicity in watershed and farm fields. (Complements Experiment Station initiative 8.)

# 10 ranked: Crop Quality

$150,000 Total General Fund Increase

$126,000 salary and fringe benefits, 0.6 new FTE, state specialist, School of Food Systems
$24,000 operating

Quality characteristics and functional food components of North Dakota grain commodities are very important to producers and the industry as a whole. This is particularly true in light of the new processes being developed that can influence the functional components of crops present in the food ingredients that are extracted or the food products produced from these ingredients. These functional components can lead to additional marketing opportunities. Additional Extension support in the School of Food Systems is needed to connect research findings to producers and industry. (Complements Experiment Station initiative 9.)

# 11 ranked: Weeds

$132,000 Total General Fund Increase

$54,000 salary and fringe benefits, 0.3 new FTE, area specialist, HREC
$54,000 salary and fringe benefits, 0.3 new FTE, area specialist, WREC
$24,000 operating

Weeds are a major threat to profitable crop production in North Dakota. Failure to control weeds costs producers millions of dollars in lost crop yield and quality. Additional weed scientists are needed in western North Dakota (Hettinger and Williston RECs) to conduct research and educational programs on new weed problems, such as herbicide-resistant weeds, to allow growers to achieve economical and successful weed control. (Complements Experiment Station initiative 14.)

# 12 ranked: Support Staff

$160,000 Total General Fund Increase

$160,000 salary and fringe benefits, 2.0 new FTE, support staff, College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources

Several Extension units have critical needs for additional support staff. Continued decentralization of effort and an increase in recordkeeping for compliance issues, regulations, accountability, data collection and management require increased efforts by current staff to do more with less help. Two office support staff on campus will help to deal with the increased workload that has occurred over the last several years.

# 13 ranked: Swine

$174,000 Total General Fund Increase

$150,000 salary and fringe benefits, 0.6 new FTE, state specialist, Animal Sciences
$24,000 operating

Because of its economic impact, interest in increasing swine production in the state is growing. Each dollar of return from pigs marketed turns over 3.49 times for feed, labor, trucking, vet services and utilities. Too, because of the importance of remoteness to biosecurity in swine systems, North Dakota is being evaluated as a potential location for swine genetic companies. Consequently, a state swine specialist in the animal sciences department is needed to provide technical expertise and management assistance. (Complements Experiment Station initiative 18.)

# 14 ranked: Insects

$150,000 Total General Fund Increase

$150,000 salary and fringe benefits, 1.0 new FTE, state specialist, School of Natural Resource Sciences/Entomology

Insect identification is critical for making proper management decisions. The NDSU Entomology Diagnostic Laboratory receives over 1,000 questions on insect identification and pest management each year. Insect survey work is also important in alerting pest managers and detecting trends in insect pest problems. An Extension associate position in the entomology department is needed to address the increased workload regarding the technical handling of insect diagnostics and providing real-time pest survey information via maps posted on the Web.

# 15 ranked: Food Entrepreneurs

$150,000 Total General Fund Increase

$150,000 salary and fringe benefits, 1.0 new FTE, technician, Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences

Numerous possibilities exist for North Dakotans to use locally grown commodities as a basis for a food business. The Pride of North Dakota Showcase is a perfect venue for these businesses to demonstrate their food entrepreneurial efforts. Small businesses need access to low-cost services such as nutritional labeling and product analysis. There is a growing need to expand and deliver these services. A technical support position is needed.

# 16 ranked: Multiple Land Use

$258,000 Total General Fund Increase

$160,000 salary and fringe benefits, 0.8 new FTE, state specialist, School of Natural Resource Sciences
$54,000 salary and fringe benefits, 0.3 new FTE, area specialist, HREC
$44,000 operating

North Dakota is in a critical time period for addressing the future of the Conservation Reserve Program and the future of grazing on Forest Service lands. The co-use of these lands for recreation, wildlife, grazing and farming provides new dilemmas for the land owners and managers, specifically absentee land owners. Uncertainty about the future of these grazing lands affects not only individual land owners but entire rural communities that may rely on these lands for long-term sustainability. Two specialists–one in the School of Natural Resources and one at the Hettinger REC–are needed to assist land owners by using science-based land management principles to address multiple land-use issues. (Complements Experiment Station initiative 19.)

# 17 ranked: Nutrition and Wellness

$218,926 Total General Fund Increase

$180,000 salary and fringe benefits, 1.0 new FTE, area specialist, out-state location
$38,926 operating

North Dakota is unique in its capacity to grow a large quantity and variety of agricultural products for human consumption. Consumers need to understand the impact of these commodities in North Dakota and their contribution to good health. Nutrition and wellness education needs to be consistently delivered across the state. Food safety concerns emerge regularly and must be addressed. Disease prevention, such as diabetes education and the looming health impact of obesity in our state and society create an urgent need for an Extension programming out in the state. Area specialists will help to expand delivery of preventive education efforts in nutrition and health programming.

# 18 ranked: Energy Conservation through Precision Agriculture

$140,000 Total General Fund Increase

$140,000 salary and fringe benefits, 0.7 FTE, state specialist, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Input costs associated with production agriculture (fuel, fertilizer, seed, pesticides, transportation, energy crop drying and storage, etc.) are directly affected by the cost of energy. Modern technology can be used to reduce energy costs by optimizing the use of production inputs through appropriate application of “precision agriculture” and/or geospatial application to agriculture. National as well as local and personal databases are available to enable producers to use modern technology to maximize production, protect the environment and reduce input costs. New field equipment technologies such as auto-steer, yield monitoring, parallel tracking, field mapping and variable rate chemical application are also available. An additional Extension specialist in the agricultural and biosystems engineering department is needed to assist producers with determining the appropriate use, cost effectiveness and reliability of these systems under North Dakota conditions. (Complements Experiment Station initiative 24.)

# 19 ranked: Journalist

$150,000 Total General Fund Increase

$150,000 salary and fringe benefits, 1.0 new FTE, state specialist, Agriculture Communication

Journalist support is greatly needed to actively seek out and report on a regular basis, the latest research and Extension efforts happening at Research Extension Centers and campus departments. The information would be put into consumable form, i.e. news releases, publications, Web pages, newsletters and other media, and targeted to commodity groups, industry partners and others to make widely available the work of NDSU Agriculture and University Extension.

One-time Interactive Video Equipment (IVN) Upgrades at 23 Sites

$132,000 One-time Request

$132,000 videoconferencing equipment, high definition video camera, editing equipment and software

NDSU Agriculture and University Extension has 32 videoconference sites that are used extensively for educational outreach, credit courses, internal training, meetings, program planning and other purposes. These sites hosted nearly 1,500 events in 2007 alone. NDSU Agriculture and University Extension needs to upgrade the videoconference equipment that will no longer be supported by the Polycom company or the North Dakota Interactive Video Network after September 2010. Twenty-three sites need to be replaced with high-definition equipment, including monitors. This upgrade would bring equipment up to date, provide higher quality viewing and is consistent with the IVN upgrade plan. This request would provide 50% of the costs; the balance would be covered with local funds.