State Board of Agricultural Research and Education
Minutes  November 1, 2008
NDSU Memorial Union – Fargo, ND

 

The State Board of Agricultural Research and Education met at the NDSU Memorial Union beginning at 10 a.m. on November 1, 2008.  Members present were John Bollingberg, Tom Borgen, D.C. Coston, Jerry Effertz, Carol Goodman, Ken Grafton, Duane Hauck, Doyle Johannes, Roger Johnson, Jim Kerzman, Paul Langseth, Larry Lee, and Doyle Lentz.

 D.C. Coston introduced Jason Wohlman, Associate Executive Director for the NDSU Development Foundation, and he presented a report on the outcomes of a feasibility study done on fundraising for the NDSU main station greenhouse.

 Minutes of the September 11, 2008 SBARE meeting were approved as distributed.

 Board members discussed the greenhouse campaign and Effertz encouraged SBARE to be involved and respond in a positive way, but cautioned that SBARE not be a “fundraising organization.”

 D.C. Coston thanked SBARE members for attending the Harvest Bowl Banquet the previous evening and encouraged them to participate in the associated events that will take place today.

Coston announced that a statewide video conference, Financing Bioproducts in the Future, is scheduled for Friday, November 7, with Cole Gustafson as the presenter.

Ken Grafton reported:

1.    Kevin McPhee joined NDSU in October and is in charge of pulse improvement project.
2.    The renovation/addition capital projects at Hettinger, Carrington and Minot are on schedule.
3.    Phase I of the Beef Research Facility is complete.
4.    The greenhouse project is at least two weeks behind due to rain.
5.    Excellent reports have been received on new varieties.
6.    During homecoming week President Chapman announced NDSU’s 2008 Distinguished Professors, which included Larry Reynolds from Animal Sciences Department.

Duane Hauck told SBARE that Lionel Olson and Jeremy Pederson have been hired to fill the area agronomist positions for the northeast and north central regions of North Dakota.  Hauck also updated the board on searches that were in process.

Hauck indicated that the NDSU Extension Service has been involved in several sessions that have been broadcast statewide to address the troubled financial times, trying to be proactive in dealing with issues at hand.

SBARE members were asked to review the makeup of the proposed Dry Pea ARF Granting Committee.  Following their review, D.C. Coston made a motion to approve the new ARF Granting Committee.  Doyle Johannes seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Copies of the 2009 Agricultural Research Fund Legislative Report were distributed.

Several SBARE members participated in research and Extension budget visits with legislators.  Following is a summary of the outcomes of the sessions.

September 23 - John Bollingberg and D.C. Coston visited with Senator Wanzek in Jamestown.  Bollingberg indicated that Wanzek clearly understands research and has nothing but positive to say about NDSU research and Extension.

September 23 - Jerry Effertz and D.C. Coston met with Representative Merle Boucher.  Effertz said Boucher was cordial, understands agriculture and expressed pleasure with the bipartisan approach.  Boucher also indicted positive support for the SBARE budget process.

September 24 – Effertz and Coston met with Representative Matt Klein and Senators Karen Krebsbach and Ryan Taylor.  Effertz said the visits with all three were very positive.  He added that Senator Krebsbach talked about funding allocated for renovations at the North Central Research Extension Center that was used instead to cover additional expenses at Carrington and Hettinger.

September 30 – Ken Grafton, D.C. Coston and Bob Bahm met with Senator David O’Connell.  Grafton indicated that O’Connell was cordial, supportive and positive.  Grafton said that they had visited about redirecting capital improvement funds from the North Central Research Extension Center project to the Carrington and Hettinger renovation projects to achieve the best outcome and O’Connell was very comfortable.

September 30 – Ken Grafton, Larry Lee, and D.C Coston met with Representative Bob Skarphol.  Lee reported that the visit went well and Skarphol is well informed about agriculture and Extension issues.

October 1 – Rod Howe, Ken Grafton and D.C. Coston met with Senator Bill Bowman.  It was reported that Bowman stressed the importance of completing the beef research facility in Fargo and that he understands the research and Extension budgets and is very supportive.

October 1 – D.C. Coston, Ken Grafton, and Rodney Howe met with Representative Jim Kerzman, Senator Aaron Krauter, and Representative Rod Froelich.  Kerzman reported that they were all very supportive of the SBARE process and the legislators expressed support of Kerzman’s appointment to the board.

Jerry Effertz reported on SBARE’s report to the Interim Ag Committee on October 7 and the OMB Hearing on October 16. 

Effertz reminded everyone that SBARE is an engaged board and members need to seek and share information at every opportunity.  He added that the projects that are included in budget requests are there and included because SBARE has listened well to constituents.

Effertz told SBARE that the next meeting is tentatively set for January 8 in Bismarck and will be held in conjunction with the planned Ag Coalition meeting and legislative social.

Doyle Johannes asked about the winter wheat breeding program at NDSU and Ken Grafton responded by saying that there is a lot of interest in winter wheat and work is being done to reestablish the program regionally.

The meeting adjourned at 12:25 p.m.

Recorded by Margaret Olson