# 1 ranked: Greenhouse Utilities

$439,996 Total General Fund Increase

The NDAES is requesting funding for the estimated costs of utilities for the current greenhouse project.

# 2 ranked: Extraordinary Repairs

$600,000 Total General Fund Increase

The NDAES, which includes the Main Station and the REC’s, has buildings worth $25,009,718 and infrastructure valued at $8,519,250. Currently, the NDAES has $740,465 continuing funds to address deferred maintenance projects at each of the RECs and Main Station Farms. In addition, $100,000 in one-time funding was added to this fund. Maintenance projects that receive high priority are those that affect employee safety and critical repairs. There is insufficient funding available for routine or scheduled maintenance.

# 3 ranked: Pulse, Oilseed, and Wheat Quality and Product Evaluation

$1,100,000 Total General Fund Increase

$420,000 salary and fringe benefits, 2.0 new FTE, Main Station
$480,000 salary and fringe benefits, 4.0 new FTE, Main Station
$200,000 operating

Developing quality evaluation programs for legume, pulses, and oilseeds would be an important component of the research activities at the NDAES. Activities in this area would be similar to the highly successful, but inadequately staffed and funded, quality evaluation programs for wheat, durum wheat, and barley, and would be of extreme importance to the breeding/genetics programs for these crop commodities as new varieties are being developed, tested, and released. In addition to the quality-demanding food uses of these crops, the market for nonfood uses of these crops, particularly for industrial purposes, is very high – alternate uses of crop commodities provides value-added opportunities for North Dakotans. Two scientists and four research specialists, with operating, at the Main Station (Cereal and Food Science in SFS and Plant Sciences) are needed for this activity to be successful.

# 4 ranked: NDAWN

$300,000 Total General Fund Increase

$150,000 salary and fringe benefit, 1.0 new FTE, Main Station
$150,000 operating for weather stations in ND

This widely-used weather network is an extremely visible component of NDSU Agriculture. It is used heavily by both Ag and non-Ag entities throughout the state and can be accessed using either telephone or internet. Combined with the NDAWN Website are disease forecasting systems, which utilize the weather information and provide statistically-based predictions of potential disease development. NDAWN and the disease forecasting systems have saved tens of millions of dollars over the years by alerting farmers to use protective pesticides if disease development is imminent, or to not spray if weather conditions are not appropriate for disease development. NDAWN has suffered due to inconsistent and inadequate funding – in 2007-09, $200,000 was added to support computer programming, which is vital to the basic functions of the network, with the remaining funds to help offset operations. It is clear that additional funds are needed for operations and to create a second research specialist position for weather station maintenance, as new equipment is being evaluated and as additional sites are established (Soils in the School of Natural Resource Sciences (SNRS)).

# 5 ranked: Crop Disease Management

Crop agriculture is very diverse in North Dakota. The state’s farmers grow 42 crops and lead the nation in the production of 13 crop commodities. This crop production system provides opportunities for diversification, but also places great burdens on research activities with respect to crop improvement and crop protection. In surveys conducted by numerous commodity groups, diseases routinely are identified by growers as the leading problems for their respective crop, with weed pressure typically ranked second in importance. Diseases and weed pressures not only affect yield, but also product quality. The magnitude and consistency of crop yield and quality losses due to plant diseases is a persistent problem and continues to increase, particularly given the vagaries of the North Dakota growing season. 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.

Wheat Rust Pathologist - A scientist, research specialist, and operating at Main Station (Plant Pathology Department) to coordinate research efforts to identify/develop improved levels of resistance to new races of both wheat leaf and stem rust that threaten wheat production in the state. The position will work closely with existing wheat genetics and breeding programs to identify new sources of genetic resistance and to incorporate these resistance genes into new germplasm and varieties developed for North Dakota. Yield losses to leaf rust vary with environmental conditions, but approached 2% loss (USDA estimate ~ $40 million of a $2 billion crop). A new form of stem rust (Ug99) recently emerged from Africa that can overcome most known sources of resistance. This rust race is migrating into Europe and it is anticipated that the race will soon be found in North America. This research effort will focus on identifying and incorporating resistance to this new race into adapted materials.

$390, 000 Total General Fund Increase

$210,000 salary and fringe benefits, 1.0 new FTE – Main Station
$120,000 salary and fringe benefits, 1.0 new FTE – Main Station
$ 60,000 operating funds – Main Station

Plant Pathologist - A scientist located at Carrington to coordinate and conduct research on sclerotinia and other diseases of major crops grown in Central ND, including wheat, barley, sunflower, soybean, canola, pea, and other crops important to eastern and central ND. Carrington is the ideal location for applied disease research on the many crops grown in the state. A scientist with expertise in plant pathology will enhance the ability of the researchers currently stationed at CREC to effectively carry out controlled studies on disease management. (Complements Extension
initiative 1)

$200,000 Total General Fund Increase

$140,000 salary and fringe benefits, 0.7 new FTE – CREC
$ 60,000 operating – CREC

Crop Disease Management - two research specialists, one at North Central and one at Langdon, to assist in research on crop diseases, including fusarium head blight (scab), aschochyta, black leg, and other foliar and root diseases of the state’s diverse crop complex. (Complements Extension initiative 1)

$164,000 Total General Fund Increase

$110,000 salary and fringe benefit, 1.0 new FTE NCREC
$ 54,000 salary and fringe benefit, 0.3 new FTE LREC

#6 ranked: Revolving Equipment Fund

$450,000 Total General Fund Increase

This was established at the Main Station to enhance equipment base. This fund, established in the 2007-09 biennium, provided $355,000 for the biennium to address much needed equipment for the research activities being carried out at the Main Station. For that, the NDAES is extremely grateful. Having distributed these funds to three units, it is apparent that the level of funding is insufficient for all of the equipment needs that have gone unmet for many years. A request to increase this revolving equipment fund would allow for more rapid replacement of antiquated equipment.

# 7 ranked: Forage Agronomist and Bioproducts Agronomists

$540,000 Total General Fund Increase

$180,000 salary and fringe benefit, 1.0 new FTE, CGREC
$240,000 salary and fringe benefit, 3.0 new FTE, CGREC and CREC
$120,000 operating, CGREC and CREC

A scientist and research specialist at Central Grasslands REC (Streeter), with operating, will focus on developing cellulosic and other feedstocks for biofuels and high value products requires research on perennial crops typically grown for livestock forage and research specialists at Main Station. Bioproducts agronomist at Carrington, with operating, will focus on identifying efficient agronomic practices of annual and perennial crops that are utilized for bioproduct development. Numerous questions arise regarding type of crop, management, harvest, transportation for this different use.

# 8 ranked: Soil Health

$490,000 Total General Fund Increase

$210,000 salary and fringe benefits, 1.0 new FTE, Main Station
$220,000 salary and fringe benefits, 2.0 new FTE, LREC and HREC
$ 60,000 operating, Main Station, Langdon, and HREC

Soils research at NDSU has declined due to reduced faculty numbers in the Soils unit. In the mid-1980’s, approximately 23 faculty were in the Soils Department; today, the unit currently has nine faculty. This erosion of scientific expertise has placed great strain on the ability of the unit to complete its mission of research, teaching, and outreach. As a result, some areas of importance to alleviate problems affecting the state have not been studied adequately. Saline and sodic soils are examples of two such problems that need to be addressed. Saline and sodic soils have increased in the state, with estimates that 12.6 million acres are affected to at least some degree. Reduced crop yields, lower weight gain of livestock, and water quality all are affected. Three researchers at Main Station (Soils in SNRS), Langdon, and Hettinger are needed to help address these issues. (Complements Extension initiative 9)

# 9 ranked: Quality Research for Food and Non-food Uses of North Dakota Crops

$654,000 Total General Fund Increase

$294,000 salary and fringe benefits, 1.4 new FTE, Main Station
$240,000 salary and fringe benefits, 2.0 new FTE, Main Station
$120,000 operating, Main Station

Research to focus on carbohydrates, fats, and oils for food, fuel, and other high value products. A scientist (Cereal and Food Sciences in the School of Food Systems (SFS)) and two research support staff (one in SNS and one in Ag & Biosystems Engineering) at Main Station, and one research specialist at Williston, with operating, will focus on processing of consumer and bio-based food products and ingredients, adhesives and plastics from oilseed and protein meals, and utilization of co-products for food and nonfood uses for value-added enterprises. WREC plans are to produce biodiesel from all the oilseed crops grown in North Dakota to document the oil quality characteristics from each oilseed crop for biodiesel use. In addition, collaborative efforts with Montana State University to develop safflower with enhanced oxidative stability, improved meal co-products and improved disease resistance for use for bio-lubricant, bio-fuel, hydraulic oils, cosmetics and other industrial uses as well as for human and livestock nutrition are underway (Complements Extension initiative 10)

# 10 ranked: Enhancing Livestock Development

$460,000 Total General Fund Increase

$360,000 salary and fringe benefit, 1.0 new FTE at CREC, 0.7 FTE at CGREC and 0.3 FTE at DREC
$100,000 operating at CREC, CGREC, and DREC

There are many driving forces interested in growing our state’s livestock industry. These include the desire of many ag producers to grow their existing enterprises and/or to diversify their operations, utilization of potential feedstuffs that presently are shipped to other states for their livestock operations, opportunities to enhance production of feedstuffs to serve a growing ND industry, use of co-products emerging from the rapidly expanding bioenergy/bioproducts enterprises as feedstuffs, utilization of grazing capacity in range and managed areas, and confinement issues. Two research support staff, one at Carrington, 0.7 at CGREC, and 0.3 at DREC, with operating, are needed to address the issues surrounding the growth of the livestock industry in the state. (Complements Extension initiative 7)

# 11 ranked: Support Staff

$880,000 Total General Fund Increase

$280,000 salary and fringe benefit, 4.0 new FTE office staff, Main Station
$600,000 salary and fringe benefit, 5.0 new FTE res. support staff, Main Station

Several Main Station units have critical need for additional support staff – both office and research staff. Continued decentralization of effort and an increase in recordkeeping for compliance issues, increased granting activities, regulations, accountability, data collection and management require increased efforts by current staff to do more with less help. Four office support staff will allow affected units to deal with the increased workload that has occurred over the last several years. In addition, five research specialists to assist scientists in existing programs will carry out important research and will complete the research teams for maximum efficiency.

# 12 ranked: Genetics of Bioproduct Research

$820,000 Total General Fund Increase

$420,000 salary and fringe benefits, 2.0 new FTE, Main Station
$240,000 salary and fringe benefits, 2.0 new FTE, Main Station
$160,000 operating, Main Station

Research is needed to improve the efficiency of production and conversion of plant feedstock (both traditional crops and new crops) for bioproduct development using genomics and molecular genetic techniques. Identification of desirable genes/gene products that will enhance crop productivity for biofuels and the development of novel high value products will be critical as the state and Nation continue to embark on energy self-sufficiency. Two scientists and two research specialists, with operating, will work with plant breeders at the Main Station (Plant Sciences department) to direct novel genes into adapted materials for rapid adoption by the region’s producers.

# 13 ranked: Graduate Research Assistants

$650,000 Total General Fund Increase

$650,000 salary and fringe benefits, new 10 FTE, Main Station

Students involved in research projects are an important component of the activities of any research program. The value of these students working on research related to the overall program provide the scientist an opportunity to expand his/her research program or provide greater focus on segments of the project that are of high priority. These students generally work more than their ½ time appointment and, for the funding provided, an excellent investment to the scientist’s research agenda. An investment by the state to provide funding for 20 GRA’s would be an economical investment, yet provide great dividends to the state.

# 14 ranked: Weed Science

$252,000 Total General Fund Increase

$126,000 salary and fringe benefit, 0.7 new FTE, HREC
$126,000 salary and fringe benefit, 0.7 new FTE, WREC

Two scientists, one at Hettinger and one at Williston, focusing on chemical and cultural control of weeds in farming and grazing enterprises in western ND. Conduct research on weed control in direct seeding systems and work with other staff on disease management for all no-till crops, field monitoring of crop insect/disease pressures under no-till, soil N, C-N crop residues ratios, water use efficiency and effect of alternative crops in no-till cropping systems for western North Dakota (Complements Extension initiative 11)

# 15 ranked: Soil Microbiology

$390,000 Total General Fund Increase

$210,000 salary and fringe benefit, 1.0 new FTE, Main Station
$120,000 salary and fringe benefit, 1.0 new FTE, Main Station
$ 60,000 operating, Main Station

Understanding the microbial populations of soils allows greater utilization of nutrient cycling, degradation of plant residues and organic chemicals, and the important interaction between crops and the microbial populations, all important in maintaining healthy, productive soils. A scientist and research specialist at Main Station (SNRS) are needed to investigate the interaction between microbial populations, soil health, and plant growth.

# 16 ranked: State Data Center

$200,000 Total General Fund Increase

$200,000 salary and fringe benefit, 1.5 new FTE, Main Station

The State Data Center focuses on issues surrounding business opportunities in the state, and development of rural communities. These have been major efforts of state leaders for many years. Evaluating parameters that allow for enhanced growth in income and employment in rural areas of the state provide a critical analysis so that leaders make appropriate decisions. These evaluations will be conducted by one research support staff at Main Station (Agribusiness and applied Economics).

# 17 ranked: Animal Health

$1,700,000 Total General Fund Increase

$420,000 salary and fringe benefit, 2.0 new FTE, Main Station
$380,000 salary and fringe benefit, 3.0 new FTE, Main Station
$420,000 salary and fringe benefit, 2.0 new FTE DREC
$280,000 salary and fringe benefit, 2.0 new FTE DREC
$200,000 salary and fringe benefit, 2.0 new FTE DREC

In order to continue to enhance all aspects of livestock production in North Dakota, animal agriculture requires, among other things, access to qualified animal health care. All too often, animal health care providers in some areas of rural North Dakota are nonexistent, thereby increasing the threat of rapid transmission of potentially severe diseases. A program, involving scientists and technical support at Main Station (Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences/Vet Diagnostic Lab) and Dickinson, to identify and deter potential threats is of utmost importance to this crucial component of agriculture.

# 18 ranked: Swine Research

$80,000 Total General Fund Increase

$80,000 salary and fringe benefits, 0.4 new FTE, Main Station

Because of its economic impact, interest exists to increase swine production in the state. Each dollar of return from pigs marketed turns over 3.49 times for feed, labor, trucking, vet services, utilities, etc. Also, because of the importance of remoteness to biosecurity issues in swine systems, North Dakota is being evaluated as a potential location for swine genetic companies. Consequently, an animal scientist at Main Station (Animal Science) focusing on issues related to the swine industry is needed to identify appropriate management strategies and provide solutions to technical problems. (Complements Extension initiative 13)

# 19 ranked: Multiple Land Use

$240,826 Total General Fund Increase

$ 40,000 salary and fringe benefit, 0.2 new FTE, Main Station
$126,000 salary and fringe benefit, 0.7 new FTE, HREC
$ 74,826 operating, Main Station and HREC

North Dakota is in a critical time period to address 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 provide new dilemmas for the land owners and managers, specifically absentee landowners. Uncertainty in the future of these grazing lands not only affects individual land owners, but entire rural communities that may rely on these lands for long-term sustainability. Two specialists, one at Main Station (SNRS) and one at Hettinger, with operating, are needed to assist land owners by using science-based land management principles to address multiple land use issues. (Complements Extension initiative 16)

# 20 ranked: Insect Vectors

$210,00 Total General Increase

$210,000 salary and fringe benefit, 1.0 new FTE, Main Station

Insect Vectors of plant diseases remain an important component of disease control. These vector-borne diseases are particularly important to many of the row crops grown in the state. A scientist at the Main Station (Entomology in SNRS) will lead a research effort to identify appropriate control measures to minimize disease development.

One-time extraordinary repairs/deferred maintenance

The estimated total outstanding deferred maintenance for the Agricultural Experiment Station is $4,429,700, per the most recent master plan. This amount of $4,429,700 is only a best estimate at this time. This one-time request of $2,214,850 would fund 50 percent of these items on the list.