August 7, 2001

Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies Dedicated at NDSU

The new Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies was dedicated on the campus of North Dakota State University Monday, Aug. 6.

The center, directed by NDSU agricultural economist Won Koo, will work to enhance net farm income through in-depth trade and agricultural policy research for decision makers in private and public sectors. The center was created with the cooperation of U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and approved by the N.D. State Board of Higher Education in July. Funding for the Center comes from the General Service Administration and the U.S. Customs Service

"We’ve done much of this kind of research in the past," Koo says, "But it was one piece at a time as funding permitted. This support will allow us to do much more systematic research." He notes that the center will respond rapidly to requests for information from members of the U.S. Congress as they debate agricultural and trade policy.

That information will be very welcome among decision makers, notes Dorgan, who has directed more than $3.2 million to NDSU over the past three years for agricultural and trade policy research. That funding will support the center’s work until 2002.

"One of my frustrations is that as we confront so many of the trade problems facing our family farmers it is difficult to get good research information," Dorgan says. "This center will not only enhance NDSU as a research institution, but it will also help our family farmers on the Northern Plains."

Some of the issues to be addressed by the center include:

• Agricultural policies and farm income.
• Agricultural trade policies (the World Trade Organization and regional trade agreements).
• Global competitiveness for Northern Plains crops and products.
• Foreign market development and export strategies.
• U.S./Canada and U.S./Mexico trade under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The center will employ six full-time research specialists and two graduate students. The center’s staff will also cooperate with faculty members in the agribusiness and applied economics department and the NDSU College of Business. A seven-member advisory board representing NDSU faculty and the region’s economy will oversee the center’s budget and research plan.

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Source: Won Koo, (701) 231-7448, wkoo@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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