Letter to the Editor: It's Time To Grow Our Support of Agricultural Research

Agriculture and North Dakota go together. For generations, our sweeping plains have provided for communities across all facets of life. Innovation has led to exciting developments for the agricultural community, both here in our state and around the globe. Research and innovation have been the backbone of technological advancements that allow farmers to produce more crop using less land and harness the technological tools needed to confront challenges.

When it comes to ag research and innovation, the federal government is an important partner. Through the USDA’s one-of-a-kind Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), forward thinking research projects have been funded. These grants allow North Dakota to remain an agricultural leader in unique ways.

For example, Sitting Bull College at Fort Yates received a grant to collect biological data is collected to ensure the necessary information is available to protect this livestock population, so unique to our state.

In the past five years, North Dakota has received over $9 million in AFRI grants. This has enabled research and development that will afford the agricultural community the ability to meet U.S. and global food supply needs in the future.

This approach is critical on a number of fronts. First, while our nation has watched China double its commitment to agricultural research and significantly eclipse our current spending levels, we can continue to invest in our research partners here in North Dakota and across the country.

Second, any decline in federal support for research threatens our farmers. From market volatility to water quality, today’s farmers rely, upon the results of the work done in labs by top researchers and innovators receiving support from AFRI. In fact, for every $1 spent on agricultural research in North Dakota, it returns $31 back into our economy.

Considering the agricultural sector represents over 31,000 farms and nearly 40 million acres in North Dakota, we must continue to have the benefit of ground-breaking innovation to sustain families and communities that rely upon a strong and healthy agriculture industry.

Mark Watne, President

North Dakota

Farmers Union