John Rickertsen joined the NDSU Hettinger Research Extension Center as a research agronomist Jan. 14.

Rickertsen's research will focus on issues facing producers in southwestern North Dakota, including variety and herbicide selection, fertilization, alternative crops, cover crops, crop rotations and no-till production practices.

Prior to coming to NDSU, Rickertsen was at South Dakota State University for 19 years, most recently as an Extension field specialist. He earned a bachelor's degree in agronomy and a master's degree in plant breeding and genetics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.