On The Farm: Extension Agents Needed | Video

Nick Dreyer | 5/9/2012

Back in the 1920s and `30s, many North Dakota counties began to hire agricultural specialists from NDSU. They became commonly known as county agents. They worked with farmers, bringing them the latest research information. It just so happens that many of them are retiring at about the same time and the county agent program is hoping to find good new people to take over.

Funded by the taxpayer, NDSU provides farmers and ranchers unbiased and independent information to make their operation better. And in every county but one in North Dakota, sits a county agent willing to share this information with farmers.

But just in the last year and a half, five agents in central North Dakota with 150 years of combined experience have left. Fisher, the Director for the NDSU Research Extension Center, one of eight like in the state, says its been the same for him. Right now he`s short two researchers and he continues to lose employees to private sector ag.

Fisher says on a per capita basis, the NDSU system is funded highly compared to other states, but because of the strong ag sector here, its been harder to compete.

NDSU also has a county agent in training program that they say works well.

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