1. The state board of agricultural research and education consists of:
   1. The president of North Dakota state university or the president's designee;
   2. The vice president of agricultural affairs at North Dakota state university, who serves in an ex officio nonvoting capacity;
   3. The administrator of the agricultural experiment station, who serves in an ex officio nonvoting capacity;
   4. The five persons appointed to the state board of agricultural research and education by the ag coalition;
   5. The five persons appointed to the state board of agricultural research and education by the extension service's multicounty program units;
   6. The agricultural commissioner who serves in ex officio nonvoting capacity;
   7. The director of the North Dakota state university extension service, who serves in an ex officio nonvoting capacity; and
   8. Two members of the legislative assembly appointed by the chairman of the legislative management. The chairman shall appoint one member from each political faction. The terms of members are for two years, and members may be reappointed. The legislative council shall pay the compensation and expense reimbursement for the legislative members.
2.     a.  The initial five members appointed by the ag coalition shall select their terms by lot so that one member serves for one year, and one member serves for two years, one member serves for three years, one member serves for four years, and one member serves for five years.
       b.  The initial five members appointed by the extension service's multicounty program units shall select their terms by lot so that one member serves for one year, one member serves for two years, one member serves for three years, one member serves for four years, and one member serves for five years.
3. At the completion of each initial term, the term of office for each member is four years, beginning on July first. An individual may be reappointed for a second four-year term.
4.    a.  At least ninety days before the term of a member appointed by the ag coalition expires, the ag coalition shall provide to the state board of higher education a list of one or more names from which the state board of higher education shall appoint a successor. The state board of higher education shall ensure that four out of the five seats are held by agricultural producers. 
      b.  At least ninety days before the term of a member appointed by the extension service's multicounty program units expires, the units through their advisory groups shall provide to the state board of higher education a list of one or more names from which the state board of higher education shall appoint a successor. The state board of higher education shall ensure that four out of the five seats are held by agricultural producers.
5. If an appointed position becomes vacant, the vacancy must be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the initial appointment except that the ninety-day requirement is waived. An individual appointed under this subsection is eligible to serve two full terms after completing the unexpired term for which the individual was appointed.

Each appointed member of the state board of agricultural research and education is entitled to receive one hundred thirty-five dollars per day as compensation for the time actually spent devoted to the duties of office and is entitled to receive necessary expenses in the same manner and amounts as state officials for attending meetings and performing other functions of office.

The state board of agricultural research and education shall elect one of its members annually to serve as chairman. The board shall meet at the times and locations designated by the chairman in consultation with the vice president of agricultural affairs at North Dakota state university.

Within the policies of the state board of higher education, the state board of agricultural research and education is responsible for budgeting and policy making associated with the agricultural experiment station and the North Dakota state university extension service. The state board of agricultural research and education shall:

1. Determine the causes of any adverse economic impacts on crops and livestock produced in this state;
2. Develop ongoing strategies for the provision of research solutions and resources to negate adverse economic impacts on crops and livestock produced in this state;
3. Develop proactive strategies for the extension service to fulfill the mission of improving the lives and livelihood of the citizens of North Dakota by providing research-based education;
4. Implement the strategies developed under subsections 2 and 3, subject to approval by the state board of higher education;
5. Develop, with the agricultural experiment station and the North Dakota state university extension service, an annual budget for the operations of these entities;
6. Develop a biennial budget request based on its prioritized needs list and submit that request to the president of North Dakota state university and the state board of higher education, and forward its prioritized needs list and request without modification to the office of management and budget and the appropriations committees of the legislative assembly;
7. Maximize the use of existing financial resources, equipment, and facilities to generate the greatest economic benefit from research and extension efforts and to promote efficiency;
8. Annually evaluate the results of research and extension activities and expenditures and report the findings to the legislative management and the state board of higher education;
9. Advise the president of North Dakota state university regarding the recruitment, selection, and performance of the vice president of agricultural affairs, the extension serve director, and the station director; and
10. Present a status report to the budget section of the legislative management.