WE ARE

the NDSU Extension Service. We extend education to North Dakota residents of all ages and walks of life. You’ll find us at work in your county, at Research Extension Centers and at the main campus of North Dakota State University. As North Dakotans work to improve their lives, we’re there to help. Our efforts have a special emphasis on strengthening agriculture and developing the potential of youth, adults and communities. Our efforts are funded by county, state and federal government.

We have a rich history of extending North Dakota’s land-grant university. Federal legislation established Extension in 1914, but years before that our predecessors were extending education through lectures, institutes, tours, fairs and demonstrations.

OUR PURPOSE

is to create learning partnerships that help adults and youth enhance their lives and communities.

In pursuit of our purpose, we believe:

• in lifelong learning
• in maximizing resources through partnerships
• that all people have dignity and worth
• in informed decision making
• in promoting economic and environmental sustainability
• that learners are responsible for their decisions and actions
• in encouraging and supporting creativity and innovation
• in integrating research-based knowledge with knowledge that is generated through the experiences of our partners and clients
• in teamwork and shared leadership
• that our university base, along with our local, state and national network, enhances our educational capabilities

OUR VISION

is to be the premier lifelong education network that helps North Dakotans improve their quality of life. To achieve that vision, we will strive to be innovative, adaptable and willing to take risks to create new ways of thinking, learning and addressing issues.

OUR PROGRAM PRIORITIES

• Community, Economic Development and Leadership
• Livestock Management
• Farm Business Management
• Crop Management
• Natural Resource Management
• Family Economics
• 4-H Youth Development
• Human Development and Family Science
• Nutrition, Food Safety and Health
• Horticulture and Forestry
  

WE ACHIEVE

our purpose and vision through diverse programs and partnerships that extend research, technology and knowledge to many audiences. A few examples:

• Enable North Dakota growers to efficiently produce over $6 billion of crops a year – New Extension nitrogen fertility recommendations for wheat have provided better results according to 98% of surveyed consultants and ag industry representatives. Education on wheat stem sawfly was estimated to save wheat growers $30 million in insecticide costs in 2011.Over 1,500 people were educated in 2011 on subsurface drainage systems to address soil salinity and excess water. Attendees of soybean meetings estimated $2 million of benefits from new production ideas in 2011.
• Support a beef cattle industry that is poised for expansion – 2011 survey results on beef educational activities indicated 71% of producers receiving information increased productivity or production, 39% decreased their labor needs, 56% increased calf value, and 62% increase net income.
• Help residents plan for, respond to and recover from disaster – The 2011 flooding impacted every river basin in North Dakota and displaced residents—12,000 in Minot, alone. From proper sandbag dike construction to restoring flood-damaged structures to financial recovery, Extension fielded calls for assistance; created and posted 14 flood clean-up videos; helped create a Disaster Recovery Log smartphone app; and co-developed and put to extensive use a Family Financial Toolkit.
• Enhance value-added agriculture, build community leadership and address poverty of rural communities – In 2011, educational programs in community economic development and leadership assisted communities in generating more than $2.5 million to support local issues and complete numerous business projects.
• Provide educational assistance and technical support to rural western North Dakota communities impacted by oil development – Extension’s Center for Community Vitality held four "Taking Charge of Your Community's Future" forums in 2011 that educated 725 individuals on community planning and oil leases.
• Provide educational assistance on parenting issues – Over 5,800 parents were reached through regional Parent Resource Centers in 2011, and, in its initial year, the Gearing Up for Kindergarten program assisted 750 families in improving their child’s entry into school.
• Provide educational assistance to North Dakota families at risk for food insecurity, diabetes, obesity, eye disease and other health issues – These programs have improved the nutrition of families, increased wise choices of dollars spent on food, increased physical activity and improved safe food-handling practices.  Every dollar invested in nutrition education in North Dakota reduces limited-resource families’ health-care costs by $8.82.
• Engage more than 21,000 North Dakota youth a year in club, summer camp, and after-school activities – Research shows that 4-H youth who gain the life skills and experiences provided through these programs are three times as likely to be active in their communities, nearly twice as likely to attend college and 56% more physically active.
• Engage adults and youth through Master Gardener, Junior Master Gardener (JMG), community gardens and other educational programs – In 2011 nearly 3,500 youth participated in JMG in 35 counties, and Master Gardeners volunteered over 1,500 hours in their communities reaching 3,335 people.

Apr. 1997, Reviewed Feb. 2006, Updated Nov. 2010 and Aug. 2012