Location: Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory
Project Number: 3064-21600-001-037-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 29, 2025
End Date: Jun 30, 2027
Objective:
The purpose of this agreement is to carry out cooperative research and to set forth understandings between ARS and the Area IV Soil Conservation Districts Research Farm for joint projects.
1. It is understood and agreed that while all parties are interested in basic and applied research:
a. ARS is concerned with results having regional or national application;
b. The Area IV Soil Conservation Districts of North Dakota (hereafter, ‘Area IV’) support a collaborative effort with the USDA-ARS Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory to provide land, known as the Area IV Soil Conservation Districts Research Farm, to conduct cropping systems research on farmer-sized fields;
2. Investigations as well as other joint projects will be in cooperation with the Area IV Soil Conservation Districts Research Farm. ARS and Area IV may also engage with private parties and nonprofit entities to enhance the cooperative research efforts.
Approach:
Develop agricultural systems (crop, livestock, and integrated) for northern climates that increase resilience and benefits to farmers and society. This includes:
(1) Develop production systems that improve the resilience and efficiency of cropland agriculture in the northern Plains;
(2) Determine agricultural management strategies that benefit soil and plant function, and the productivity and nutritional qualities of food crops, forages, and livestock products while enhancing ecosystem services
(3) Evaluate how conservation management practices impact nutritional qualities of food and forage crops.
These projects will fill information gaps and address urgent needs of farmers in the region.