Photo courtesy: NDSU
FARGO (KFGO) – North Dakota State University dedicated its new Bolley Agricultural Laboratory on Monday, opening a multidisciplinary facility designed to advance crop research, address producer challenges, and train the next generation of agricultural leaders.
The facility serves as a central hub for programs in plant pathology, plant breeding, weed science, agronomy, soil science, and horticulture. The project was made possible through a funding partnership between the North Dakota Legislature, private donors, and agricultural industry partners.
“Today’s dedication of the Bolley Agricultural Laboratory is the result of a shared commitment to the future of agriculture,” NDSU President Marshall Stewart said. “The Bolley Agricultural Laboratory will help NDSU prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders, accelerate research discoveries, and strengthen our ability to serve North Dakota for decades to come.”
Following the ceremony, attendees toured the new laboratory and greenhouse facilities, which allow researchers to work directly on solutions for regional crop production.
“These spaces allow us to connect research directly to the needs of producers,” said Julie Pasche, professor and Neil C. Gudmestad Endowed Potato Pathologist. “The work happening here will have an immediate and lasting impact in the field.”
The facility is named in honor of Henry L. Bolley, NDSU’s first tenured faculty member and a pioneering plant pathologist whose research helped establish modern agricultural practices. Members of the Bolley family attended the event.
In addition to expanding research capabilities, the laboratory’s shared spaces are designed to encourage collaboration across academic disciplines.
“Sharing spaces and equipment creates opportunities to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and find new ways to approach our work,” said Cameron Matthews, a doctoral candidate in plant sciences and graduate research fellow in NDSU’s barley breeding program.
Greg Lardy, the Joe and Norma Peltier Vice President for Agriculture, noted that the combination of public and private backing reinforces NDSU’s mission as a land-grant university.
“Public and private partnerships like these ensure NDSU can continue delivering solutions that matter to producers and communities,” Lardy said.
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