BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has announced that $275,000 is available for drone detection of Palmer amaranth and other noxious weeds, as authorized by the 68th Legislative Assembly. The original application deadline of Dec. 29, 2023 has been extended until Feb. 2, 2024. The review process will start after the new deadline.
“The North Dakota Department of Agriculture is seeking grant proposals for drone detection of Palmer amaranth and other noxious weeds,” Goehring said. “The project(s) will focus on sugar beet and soybean fields in four counties during the 2024 growing season, including areas where Palmer amaranth has been previously detected.”
The four counties of focus are Traill, Cass, Richland and Barnes. Grant awardees will coordinate with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, weed officers and landowners when flying drones over fields. Locations found to have detections during the survey will remain confidential and identified at the county level only.
Multiple grants may be awarded. Complete information on applying for funds is available on the NDDA website at https://www.ndda.nd.gov/uasgrant. Applications must be submitted in electronic form by 12 noon CST on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Applications will then be reviewed, scored, ranked by a committee to determine awards.
Additional information is available by contacting Richard Weisz at 701-328-2250 or raweisz@nd.gov.