Hanna Karevold, graduate research assistant in the NDSU Department of Biological Sciences, along with Erin Gillam, associate professor of biological sciences, have been selected to receive a $14,850 grant from the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, known as NCR-SARE.

Their project is titled "Economic Impacts of Bats in Dakota Agroecosystems: Do Insect-Eating Bats Reduce Pesticide Needs and Contribute to Plant Pollination?"

"This project aims to quantify the dietary composition of North and South Dakota bat populations. Specifically, if bats predate upon common crop pests, their economic value as agents of natural pest removal in agroecosystems and examine if bats indirectly contribute to pollination," Karevold said.

The grant is part of NCR-SARE's Graduate Student Grant Program, which is a competitive grant program to fund graduate student projects that address sustainable agriculture issues. The focus for each of the NCR-SARE grant programs is on research and education.

Funding considerations are made based on how well the applicant articulates the nature of the research and education components of their sustainable agriculture grant proposals.

NCR-SARE's Administrative Council decides which projects will receive SARE funds. The council is a collection of farm and non-farm citizens, and includes a diverse mix of agricultural stakeholders from regional farms and ranches, the Cooperative Extension Service, universities, federal agencies and nonprofit organizations.

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