Pesticide Harmonization Grant Program

The Pesticide Harmonization Grant Program is administered by the North Dakota Crop Protection Product Harmonization and Registration Board. This Board operates under statutory authority (Century Code 4.1-39) and administrative rules (Articles 107-01 & 107-02), and exists to ensure that North Dakota's agricultural producers have adequate access to crop protection products. The Board’s primary focus is to evaluate and prioritize crop protection product labeling needs, while also seeking opportunities to expand the availability of crop protection products that are vital for producers in the state. Through its grant programs, the Board directly supports efforts to register pesticides and harmonize product availability with cross-border jurisdictions, especially Canada. The Pesticide Harmonization Grant Program is specifically designed for agriculture commodity groups. It provides financial support to those seeking to address registration issues related to crop protection products. The Board gives special consideration to proposals that aim to harmonize pesticide labeling or that increase the availability of Canadian pesticides which are either identical or substantially similar to U.S.-registered but more expensive options. The program aligns with the broader mission of reducing input costs for producers and improving access to effective products. Funding under this program is not capped by a maximum award limit, offering flexibility for commodity groups to propose appropriately scaled projects. However, applicants must request a specific funding amount and clearly explain the exact purposes for which the funds will be used. Proposals must also include a detailed timeline for how and when the funds will be expended. This level of specificity ensures that projects are both well-planned and strategically aligned with the Board’s priorities. Proposals can be submitted at any time throughout the year, and reviews are conducted at the discretion of the Board chairperson. This rolling review structure allows applicants to plan and apply according to their own timelines rather than a fixed annual cycle. However, formal Board meetings for review are generally aligned with the traditional March 1 and November 1 funding cycles. This grants the Board some scheduling consistency while maintaining flexibility for applicants. To apply, agriculture commodity groups must mail or deliver twelve physical copies of their complete proposal to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and also submit one electronic copy via email to the Environmental Scientist designated as the Board’s contact. Each proposal is expected to include all relevant attachments and adhere to submission requirements, as determined by the Board. Eligible entities include universities, USDA researchers, and private research labs; however, pesticide manufacturers, dealers, or distributors are not eligible to apply. Key contacts for the program include Lilliann Johnston, Environmental Scientist at the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. Her contact email is [email protected] and phone support is available via 701-328-2231. The program's mailing address is 600 E Boulevard Ave Dept 602, Bismarck, ND 58505-0020. This open submission structure, flexible funding size, and targeted harmonization priorities make the program a specialized but critical mechanism in supporting North Dakota’s agricultural sustainability and competitiveness.