Northern Crops Institute

Tulbek

2007

Laird Larson, SD Wheat Commission, elected NCC Chair. John McLean is elected IAB Chair. Construction of NCI grain processing laboratory approved. NCC membership increased through ND legislative action. Feed Production Center Vision Task Force initiated. Director Patricia Berglund retires.

2006

Jennifer Tesch, SK Food International, elected NCC Chair. Mehmet Tulbek hired as NCI’s first oilseed and legume specialist. Buhler laboratory-scale mill donated to NCI by North Dakota State Mill. Translation Booths remodeled.

2005

Matt Mechtel, ND Soybean Council, elected NCC Chair. Bob Majkrzak, Red River Commodities, elected IAB Chair. Electronic Data Collection system installed in pasta extruder.

2004

Brian Kaae re-elected chair of NCC. Strategic Planning and action planning completed.

2003

Brian Kaae, MT Wheat and Barley Committee, elected NCC Chair. 20th Anniversary Celebration is celebrated on June 30. Renovation of NCI's Main Floor. Special Edition 20th Anniversary Publication (pdf)

2002

Sherwood Peterson, MN Soybean Growers Council, elected NCC Chair. NCI establishes an Industry Advisory Board.

2001

Brian Sorenson is hired as NCI's second Technical Director. NCI produces new promotional video. NDSU dedicates the Animal Nutrition and Physiology Center.

2000

Maynard Satrom, ND Wheat Commission, elected NCC chair. Wheat Quality Council elects Berglund chair. NDSU lets bids for the Small Animal Research Center.

1999

NCI Auditorium is equipped with multimedia equipment and Internet access at all desks. Chinese Ambassador to USA visits NCI.

1998

Charles Gunnerson elected NCC chair. NCI receives contract for AACC check sample analysis. NCC votes to transfer funds for the Food Processing Pilot Plant to the construction of NDSU's Small Animal Research Center.

1997

Plans for construction of the Food Processing Pilot Plant are reviewed.

1996

Patricia Berglund, Ph.D., is hired as NCI's second Director. Joel Dick is elected NCC Chair. Bids let for the feed mill reception area and quality control lab.

1995

Terry Goerger re-elected NCC chair. Quality control laboratory added to feed mill construction.

1994

Terry Goerger is elected NCC chair. NCI's administrative reporting line changes from Director of Agricultural Experiment Station to the Vice President for Agriculture and University Outreach. Discussions begin on construction of feed mill reception/office area.

1993

Jim Squires is elected NCC chair. Feed mill classroom is dedicated. Director Donnelly takes leave of absence from NCI to serve as interim Vice President for Agriculture and University Outreach.

1992

Richard Fugleberg is elected NCC chair. NCI receives bids for feed mill classroom. Patent application process begins for NCI-developed couscous.

1991

George Howe is elected NCC chair. Durum Mill is dedicated during Harvest Bowl weekend. Congress approves USDA aquaculture project at NCI Feedmill.

1990

NCI hires Kim Koch, Ph.D., as first feed mill manager. Feed Mill is dedicated during Harvest Bowl weekend.

1989

Jerry Kruger becomes NCC chair. Ground breaking ceremony for feed mill is held August 17. Construction of durum mill begins.

1988

Fund-raising for feed mill and durum mill is in full swing. Agreement is signed to train Soviet millers, bakers and pasta manufacturers. High temperature-high pressure extruder is installed and operational.

1987

David Holter elected NCC chair. Feed mill building committee and steering committee are appointed.

1986

Orion Samuelson films his “U.S. Farm Report” in Fargo, highlighting the NCI and NDSU. NCC reviews proposal for construction of a feed mill and durum mill.

1985

Willard Pedersen is elected NCC chair.

1984

John Crabtree is hired as NCI's first assistant director. NCI produces promotional film with a matching grant from the MN Department of Agriculture.

1983

Construction of NCI is complete. First ribbon-cutting ceremony is held on April 29, attended by the first visiting trade delegation from Switzerland . Official ribbon-cutting ceremony takes place during the Harvest Bowl activities on October 22. Northern Crops Council, NCI's governing board, expands to 13 members when South Dakota and Montana begin to participate. Ed Ross is elected NCC chair. James Jacobs is employed as NCI's first technical director. NCI's first course, Grain Procurement Management for Importers, is presented Sept. 19-30. Nine people from Iraq, Oman, Yemen and China participated.

1982

Dr. Brendan Donnelly is hired as NCI's first director.

1981

ND Senate Bill 2372 authorizes establishment of Northern Crops Institute. House Bill 1341 provides $1.5 million for construction and equipment. Official ground breaking is held on December 16. George Sinner is elected the first chair of the Northern Crops Council

1980

Proposal for a Spring Grains Institute is presented and approved by the Agricultural Experiment Station Facilities Committee. Later that year, the concept fails to gain approval from the ND State Board of Higher Education. United States Durum Growers Association passes a resolution to support a Spring Grains Institute. This action sets in motion a chain of events that results in legislative action.

1979

Discussions begin about the need for a facility to promote spring wheat and durum wheat.