11.13.15

Hoeven Helps Dedicate New $33.5 Million NDSU Greenhouse Research Complex

As Governor, Hoeven Helped Secure State Funds for Project, Continues Support for Ag Research on Senate Appropriations and Agriculture Committees

FARGO, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today joined state, local and university leaders in dedicating the North Dakota Agriculture Experiment Station Research Greenhouse Complex, a $33.5 million state-of-the-art facility at North Dakota State University (NDSU) that provides enhanced education and advanced research in plant breeding, genetics, horticulture, entomology, plant pathology, plant nutrition and associated disciplines.

As governor of North Dakota, Hoeven worked with the legislature between 2005 and 2011 to secure $20.45 million in state funds for the greenhouse. Following Hoeven’s term, the Dalrymple administration provided nearly $7 million in general funds, bringing total state funding for the greenhouse to $27.4 million. NDSU also received an additional $700,000 in federal funding and up to $7.5 million in authorization from the state for matching funds, all of which was not needed.

“NDSU’s researchers are on the cutting-edge of the agriculture industry,” Hoeven said. “We’ve worked hard to ensure they have the facilities and support they need to help our farmers and ranchers maintain their land, fight disease and increase their yields. This greenhouse supports innovations in these critical areas, while also providing valuable experience for students and faculty at NDSU, which will help to ensure that our nation and the world have access to a healthy, safe and reliable food supply.”

As a member of the Agriculture Committee and Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Hoeven continues his efforts to support the work of land-grant institutions and similar facilities to meet the needs of the state’s agriculture producers. On average, NDSU has received about $10 million per year in formula funds and competitive grants since 2010 to support research and extension activities. Earlier this year, the senator announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the FY2016 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, which includes strong support for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Agriculture Research Service (ARS). Hoeven said he will continue working to maintain this support for agriculture research as Congress finalizes funding for the rest of FY2016.

Last December, Hoeven hosted a meeting at the greenhouse with NDSU faculty, local commodity groups and producers to highlight both the importance of agriculture research and the newly formed National Agricultural Genotyping Center (NAGC) at the USDA-ARS Biosciences Research Lab on NDSU’s campus. Last year, Hoeven announced the lab’s selection as the site after spearheading the delegation’s support for the North Dakota Corn Growers’ bid to host the NAGC in North Dakota.

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