701-566-9300These past couple of weeks the House Government Operations Division has been hearing testimony in support of NDSU’s SBARE funding requests for their Research and Extension Priorities in Senate Bill 2020. When I was asked to provide testimony on behalf of the Association I was delighted! I felt like a minor league baseball player being asked to step up to the majors.
I am excited to be involved in these funding requests for NDSU Extension and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. The Senate’s bill version cut the base budget by 3% and it is very important to get the House to fully restore full funding to prevent disruptions to these critical programs.
SBARE, the State Board of Agriculture Research and Education, in conjunction with the NDSU Agriculture Department, has an impressive 30-year history in facilitation of cross-commodity coordination and prioritization which has greatly helped agriculture with key investments and programs. Our legislature generously has approved funding, supported by funds from soybean and other farmers for more than the last three state budget cycles. Consider NDSU’s agriculture policy role. Think about the value of the greenhouse complex named for former Governor Jack Dalrymple, which allows world-class, year-round breeding, research, and plant disease-resistance evaluation. NDSU also now has the amazing Peltier Complex.
This session, NDSU and SBARE are now seeking additional funding for, among other things, Extension Initiative numbers1 and 2. These initiatives aim to provide a specialist and/or resources to help our farmers and ranchers navigate the complexities of carbon contracts and market preferences. They would also provide operating support vital for NDSU to innovate and address emerging needs, whether involving carbon and biofuels, disaster response, livestock development.
The Association urges you to contact your legislators in the House Appropriations Government Operations Division, and ask them to support Senate Bill 2020, including restoring 3% to the base budget and funding NDSU’s requested initiatives. This could be one of the most important contacts you make for the future of your farm or ranch.