By Scout Nelson
Senator John Hoeven announced a new initiative designed to strengthen export opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and rural businesses across the country. The effort focuses on creating a cooperative agreement between the North Dakota State University Agricultural Risk Policy Center and the National Rural Export Center.
The proposed agreement is intended to combine research expertise with export support services to help rural businesses better understand foreign markets and expand international trade opportunities. Hoeven is advancing the initiative as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee.
The Agricultural Risk Policy Center at North Dakota State University has become an important resource for agriculture producers, industry leaders, and policymakers since it first received federal funding in Fiscal Year 2024. The center conducts research on issues affecting agriculture, including fertilizer price volatility, supply chain disruptions, and commodity market trends.
Recent research from the center also helped support efforts connected to trade investigations involving foreign sugar-producing countries. Hoeven secured nearly $6.5 million in funding for the Agricultural Risk Policy Center since 2024 to support its ongoing research and policy work.
The National Rural Export Center, based in Fargo, supports rural businesses by researching export opportunities and providing services to businesses across the United States. The center works alongside eight regional Rural Export Centers located throughout the country.
Under the proposed cooperative agreement, the two organizations would work together to strengthen export opportunities by providing businesses with improved market intelligence, export education, logistics assistance, and compliance support. Leaders believe the partnership could help rural businesses identify new international markets and improve economic growth opportunities.
“We have two incredible institutions in Fargo supporting our farmers, ranchers and rural businesses – NDSU’s Ag Policy Research Center and the National Rural Export Center. On their own, these initiatives have been great resources for strengthening farm and rural economies. Now, we’re working to supercharge the research engine of the National REC. We’re working to create a new cooperative agreement that will link the expertise of the policy center with the National REC, helping our farmers and rural businesses across the country to identify and seize more opportunities in foreign markets,” said Hoeven.
Photo Credit: north-dakota-state-university
Categories: North Dakota, Business, Government & Policy, Rural Lifestyle