The Northern Crops Institute announced two recent additions to the organization’s team. Neil Doty was named the institute's technical director in a consulting capacity and Betsy Armour was appointed to communications and public relations manager. The institute is located on the NDSU campus.

“Neil will provide expertise to our technical programs and Betsy will serve as our communications liaison to agribusinesses, legislators, commodity groups and media,” said Mark Weber, institute director. “Their combined experience will help support NCI as we continue to promote northern grown crops globally.”

Doty will be responsible for providing technical service programs in support of market development along with promotional efforts for northern grown crops into both domestic and export markets. He has been actively involved in business development since 1994 through his consulting firm, N.C. Doty and Associates LLC.

Doty earned a doctorate in cereal chemistry and technology from NDSU and a Master of Business Administration degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead. He has been involved in business investment and chief executive management roles with Global Electric Motorcars LLC, Fargo, and Sonne Labs Inc., Wahpeton, North Dakota.

Armour will direct the institute's communications and public relations efforts. She earned a bachelor's degree in mass communications from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Armour previously was manager of communications for the North Dakota Corn Utilization Council and North Dakota Corn Growers Association. She assisted both organizations with a successful effort to bring the National Genotyping Center to North Dakota and she was project manager for the soon-to-be-launched American Ethanol Rewards App.

The institute supports regional agriculture and value-added processing by conducting educational and technical programs that expand and maintain domestic and international markets for northern-grown crops. It is funded by the states of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota and commodity groups in those states and Montana.