Fiscal Year 2010

This project focuses on finding and developing new uses for ethanol co-products that are produced in the region.  Previous work that was conducted jointly by SDSU and USDA-ARS has thoroughly characterized the areas of dry distiller’s grains and has conducted extensive testing on dairy, beef, and swine nutrition.  Further developments will be achieved by further processing these co-products.  Economic benefits from regional utilization of ethanol co-products warrants continued research.  As the agricultural sector advances to meet the demands of the Renewable Fuel Standard, significantly greater amounts of ethanol co-products will be produced.  The primary emphasis of this project is regional economic development by enhanced use of ethanol co-products.

The objective is to integrate pulse crops and other emerging opportunities into regional production systems in order to diversify agriculture and improve economic options for producers.  Benefits of diversifying crop production systems will include an overall reduction in input costs and enhanced sustainability.  This research is conducted through direct involvement of producers in Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.  This project has recently resulted in a well-established pulse crop industry.  This research diversifies agriculture in the Northern Great Plains region, thereby enhancing economic sustainability and reducing the future need for federally-funded risk management through agricultural subsidies.

SDSU is part of the International Arid Lands Consortium, along with institutions in Arizona, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, and Illinois.  Scientists in Jordan, Israel, and Egypt are also part of the consortium.  This grant supports cooperative research on problems that are unique to arid and semiarid regions, such as the Northern Great Plains region.  This funding supports research directed toward sustainability and proper stewardship of natural resources in dry regions of the world.  These efforts are multidisciplinary, multi-state, and international leading to research synergies for all of the consortium members.

The purpose of this project is to establish sustainable economic development in extreme Northwestern South Dakota and the surrounding counties of North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming.  This region has excellent resources to further develop grain and forage crop production for local use by ruminant livestock.  The four land-grant universities in SD, ND, WY, and MT formed the consortium in order to jointly serve the region’s producers through on-farm research and local extension education.  The research integrates use of livestock, rangelands, crops, and all other available feeds to enhance economic return and positively impact the environment.  The four state region served by this university consortium is rural and the producers are some of the farthest removed from all four of the region’s land-grant institutions.  These funds link all four universities together to serve this region.

Northern State University is working in a collaborative manner to develop a process to substantially increase the end value of cattle by using animal products to assist in developing new pharmaceuticals to treat human disease. Currently, the drug development process in biotechnology is expensive. The significant cost savings derived from using animal material would allow for the development of new agents, which hold great potential for medical research.  With enhanced protein chemistries, it may be possible to create new therapeutic processes for anticoagulation, wound healing, anemia, and immune enhancement and protection.  Additionally, it may be possible to develop proteins for cancer and other autoimmune disease treatment.

Seed technology and biotechnology are emerging industries in South Dakota.  These funds are used to solidify South Dakota’s position in these converging fields.  SDSU’s research leadership will attract the latest in biotechnology traits to the state’s producers.  The traits that will be emphasized include drought tolerance, advanced processing traits (e.g. white wheat and the trait for enhanced processing to ethanol), and new dedicated energy crops.  The primary emphasis of this project is regional economic development by enhanced agricultural biotechnology.

This funding enhances research activity at the USDA/ARS/North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory in Brookings, SD.  In particular, the funding will fill a major gap in the research currently being conducted to develop ethanol from lignin and cellulose derived from switchgrass and corn stover.  As ethanol is manufactured from these feedstocks, uses for the byproducts will ensure the sustainability and profitability of the domestic biofuels industry as well as agriculture producers.

With over 12,000 tribal members spread out over 2.8 million acres public safety officers are forced to cover between 15 to 92 miles between headquarters and the Tribe’s 19 communities.  This funding would support increased tribal law enforcement, court, and detention operations and provide additional resources for needed equipment to support these services.  Studies show that crime rates on South Dakota’s reservations are significantly higher than those found in the rest of the state.  This project will effectively use taxpayer dollars because it will increase safety and security on the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation.

The LBST Boys & Girls Club provides after school programming, drug and alcohol prevention, suicide prevention, teen pregnancy prevention, and juvenile crime prevention to the tribal youth of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe.  Studies show that Native American youth living on reservations have higher rates of suicide and substance abuse than their counterparts living off the reservations.  This project will effectively use taxpayer dollars because it will provide needed services to the Lower Brule Sioux tribal youth.

With over 38,000 tribal members, this funding would support increased tribal law enforcement, court, and detention operations and provide additional resources for needed equipment to support these services.  Studies show that crime rates on South Dakota’s reservations are significantly higher than those found in the rest of the state.  This project will effectively use taxpayer dollars by increasing the safety and security on the Oglala Sioux reservation.

With over 20,000 residents, spread between 20 communities, on over 900,000 acres of land, tribal law enforcement, the court system, and detention centers struggle to maintain basic levels of public safety throughout the reservation.  Additional funding will allow for additional operations and equipment for these tribal programs.  Studies show that crime rates on South Dakota’s reservations are significantly higher than those found in the rest of the state.  This project will effectively use taxpayer dollars because it will increase safety and security on the Rosebud Sioux reservation.

In 2008, Standing Rock Child Protection Services provided 230 children with foster care and investigated over 400 reports of child abuse and neglect per month.  Unfortunately, additional funding is still needed to help reduce the high rates of child abuse and neglect.  This project will effectively use taxpayer dollars because it improve the quality and quantity of child protection services being provided on the Standing Rock Sioux reservation.

Located on the North and South Dakota border, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe spans more than 2.4 million acres and is home to over 10,000 residents.  This funding will build upon the success of Operation Dakota Peacekeeper by allocating funds for additional operations and equipment for tribal law enforcement, courts, and detention.  Studies show that crime rates on South Dakota’s reservations are significantly higher than those found in the rest of the state.  This project will effectively use taxpayer dollars because it will increase safety and security on the Standing Rock Sioux reservation.

The Three Districts Boys & Girls Club provides after school programming in their five core areas, drug and alcohol prevention, suicide prevention, teen pregnancy prevention, and juvenile crime prevention to the tribal youth of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe.  Studies show that Native American youth living on reservations have higher rates of suicide and substance abuse than their counterparts living off the reservations.  This project will effectively use taxpayer dollars because it will provide needed services to the Crow Creek Sioux tribal youth.