AGCO announced as anchor tenant for Grand Farm Innovation Campus; company to build test farm
Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller announced on Wednesday that AGCO, a global leader in agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, will be an anchor tenant for the Grand Farm Innovation Campus near Casselton.
Duluth, Georgia-based AGCO plans to build a 300-acre operation dubbed Dakota Smart Farm at Grand Farm. The initiative aims to develop innovative farming practices to create a sustainable farm, focusing on precision ag technologies and retrofit solutions for existing machinery.
Fargo-based Appareo Systems, which is owned by AGCO, will lead the Dakota Smart Farm with a team of agronomists, scientists, engineers and ag experts who will conduct agronomy studies and host tours to educate farmers on sustainable and precision ag farming practices. Among those attending today’s announcement was Seth Crawford, AGCO’s senior vice president and general manager, Precision Ag and Digital.
“The Dakota Smart Farm will further cement North Dakota’s reputation as a global leader in cutting-edge ag technology, as AGCO brings its considerable expertise and strong track record of innovation to Grand Farm to create the farm of the future,” Miller said. “We’re grateful for the company’s investment in our state and excited for its potential to help our farmers improve their productivity and profitability while also helping to address our workforce shortage through autonomous technology.”
Miller served as a founding member of Grand Farm’s steering committee prior to joining state government as chief operating officer in April 2020 and being appointed lieutenant governor last December. Two weeks ago, she joined Grand Farm officials in Fargo to announce that Grand Farm had reached its Phase I fundraising goal, raising over $15.1 million. In February 2022, the state announced a $10 million matching grant to support the Grand Farm Education and Research Initiative, as recommended in Gov. Doug Burgum’s Accelerate ND plan and approved by the legislature.
Burgum statement in remembrance of 9/11 victims on anniversary of terrorist attacks
Gov. Doug Burgum released the following statement Monday on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“Twenty-two years later, we honor the nearly 3,000 individuals who died in the 9/11 attacks and the heroic actions of the police, firefighters and other first responders who bravely saved lives while risking their own,” Burgum said. “We will never forget them or the 29 military service members from North Dakota who have laid down their lives for our freedom in the Global War on Terrorism. To them we owe a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. We encourage all citizens to take time to thank a first responder, find a way to give back to their community and display an American flag, remembering the renewed patriotism and unity that arose in the aftermath of that tragic day.”
Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller participated in Sept. 11 remembrance ceremonies at the International Peace Garden and the Global War on Terrorism memorial in Bismarck.
Miller attends groundbreaking for Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV
Lt. Gov. Miller delivered remarks Monday at the groundbreaking ceremony for Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV northwest of Williston.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative and lead contractor Burns & McDonnell held the groundbreaking for Basin's largest single-site electric generation project to be built in North Dakota in 40 years.
"When we say that North Dakota fuels and feeds the world, it’s because of investments like this that provide the reliable, affordable electricity that allows our state to be an energy and agricultural powerhouse, to support advanced manufacturing," Miller said. "And, increasingly, it allows us to diversify our economy, such as how we are cementing our status as a hub for data centers doing high-performance computing. It it sends a message to the rest of the nation and world that North Dakota is open for business."
The project involves adding up to 583 megawatts of natural gas generation near the existing Pioneer Generation Station.
Keynote speakers announced for Recovery Reinvented Oct. 5
Gov. Burgum and First Lady Kathryn Burgum are inviting the general public to join them for Recovery Reinvented, an event dedicated to eliminating the shame and stigma of the disease of addiction, on Oct. 5 in Ann Nicole Nelson Hall on the campus of Minot State University. The event will also be livestreamed.
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required and is currently open for both in-person and online attendees.
This will be the first time the event is held in Minot, having previously been hosted in Bismarck three times, once in Fargo, once in Grand Forks and virtually in 2020. The daylong event will feature state and national addiction and recovery experts who will focus on reinventing recovery through the sharing of stories, creating recovery-friendly cultures in the workplace and community, and eliminating the stigma surrounding the disease of addiction.
The keynote speaker lineup includes:
- Dr. Lipi Roy, an internal medicine physician who is board-certified in addiction medicine. Roy is the founder of SITA MED, an addiction/health speaking company, as well as a sought-after international speaker, media personality and host of the YouTube series “Health, Humor and Harmony.”
- Dr. Stephen Loyd, chief medical officer for Cedar Recovery in Tennessee and the current chair of the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council, appointed by current Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. Loyd has been in recovery from opioid and benzodiazepine addiction since July 8, 2004.
- Scott Davis, who served as executive director of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission from 2009 to 2021, serving three governors and 23 tribal chairs. Davis is 17 years sober. “As I enter 17 years of sobriety, day by day I am thankful to Creator for a beautiful life, I am also grateful and excited to share my story at this year’s Recovery Reinvented,” he said.
The speakers’ full bios can be found on Recovery Reinvented’s website.
On Recovery Reinvented’s social media, there will be opportunities to submit nominations for the Recovery Champion awards, which honor local individuals and groups making an impact in the field of addiction and recovery. In addition to nominations, there is the opportunity to share and submit stories of recovery.
Addiction and recovery-related nonprofit organizations and service providers also are encouraged to join the Recovery Resources Expo, which will connect people to extensive addiction, recovery and mental health organizations and resources from across the state. Anyone interested in these opportunities to get involved can visit recoveryreinvented.com to learn more and sign up.
Registration is open on Eventbrite, with additional updates being shared on recoveryreinvented.com and by the Governor, First Lady, and Recovery Reinvented’s social media on Facebook @GovernorDougBurgum, @FirstLadyND and @RecoveryND and on Instagram and X @FirstLadyND and @Recovery_ND.
Join us for the Main Street ND Summit
The 2023 summit will take place Oct. 24-25 in Watford City
North Dakota's economy is changing, and attracting skilled workforce to your company and community is more important than ever. To attract the best and brightest, private and public sectors need to work together to tell the story and show why employees need to call North Dakota home.
The 2023 North Dakota Main Street ND Summit is your opportunity to learn from experts and network with other community leaders. The theme this year is Innovative Workforce Solutions. The summit will feature nationally renowned keynote speakers and hands-on workshops that will provide you with the tools to attract and retain the next generation of North Dakota’s workforce.
There are several tours and activities that you can also sign up for when you register.