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Groundbreaking Set for 2 Major NDSU Research Facilities

NDSU will break ground May 30 on two agricultural research facilities.

Groundbreaking will take place for two major North Dakota State University Agriculture research facilities on Friday, May 30.

The Beef Cattle Research Center groundbreaking will be at the southwestern corner of the intersection of 19th Avenue North and Interstate 29 at 9:30 a.m. The Greenhouse Facility groundbreaking will be at the intersection of 15th Avenue and 18th Street North at 10:30 a.m.

The NDSU Beef Cattle Research Center will improve NDSU's work in nutrition, physiology, animal health, genetics, meat science, nutrient management, food safety and economics.

The NDSU Greenhouse Facility will advance research knowledge in crops and enable enhanced capabilities to benefit producers and businesses through increased productivity and sales.

North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven; NDSU President Joseph Chapman; Jerry Effertz, chairman of the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education; D.C. Coston, NDSU vice president for Agriculture and University Extension; and Ken Grafton, director of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, are among those who will take part in both ceremonies. Faculty, staff, industry leaders, donors and others also will attend both events. In case of inclement weather, the ceremonies will take place in the NDSU Alumni Center, 1241 N. University Drive, Fargo.

Chapman says these facilities expand NDSU’s capabilities to serve North Dakota, particularly the vital agricultural and bio economy.

“They enhance the competitiveness of our faculty in garnering grants to support their outstanding research efforts,” he says.

Grafton, also dean of the NDSU College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources, says that these research centers will be of enormous benefit to both livestock and crop agriculture activities in the state and region. Benefits will be reflected in increased production and sales, which will enhance economic opportunities for North Dakota.

“Agriculture is the No. 1 industry in North Dakota,” he says. “North Dakota has a very diverse crop agriculture system, producing more than 42 different crops, and we lead the nation in the production of 13 crops. Our livestock sector has tremendous opportunities for expansion, which would increase the value of all commodities in the state. It is imperative that NDSU provides the innovation and applications necessary to maintain that status. Both these centers will incorporate state-of-the-art technologies to enable scientists to maintain the high levels of research to ensure that producers are given every advantage possible.”

During the last legislative session, Hoeven signed into law a $42 million comprehensive renewable energy and agriculture package, which included $7 million for the new Greenhouse Facility. The funding was in addition to $2 million appropriated in the previous biennium. The Legislature also provided $1 million in spending authority to help develop the Beef Cattle Research Center.

“The state’s investments in the new Greenhouse Facility and Beef Cattle Research Center represent our long-term commitment to excellence in agriculture,” Hoeven says. “North Dakota farmers and ranchers already produce the highest-quality food in the world, and these new facilities will help provide the research and technology necessary to keep our producers on the cutting edge of the industry.”


NDSU Agriculture Communication

Source:Ken Grafton, (701) 231-7655, k.grafton@ndsu.edu
Source:D.C. Coston, (701) 231-7656, d.c.coston@ndsu.edu
Editor:Mary-Anne Fiebig, (701) 231-8190, mary-anne.fiebig@ndsu.edu
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