AgTech
Agriculture industries continue to improve our region
Economic Impact of AgTech Sector
Agriculture has been the backbone of the Greater Fargo-Moorhead regional economy since homesteaders started farming the land over 150 years ago. Since that time, our region’s strength in agriculture and innovation has spawned a multitude of agriculture technologies and global equipment companies dedicated to improving productivity, efficiency and life on the farm
Technology Breakthroughs
Early AgTech pioneers in North Dakota developed:
- Bobcat- the first skid steer loader
- Steiger-the first reliable high powered articulated four-wheel drive tractor
- Great Plains Software- innovative accounting package for agriculture (now the 3rd largest Microsoft campus here in Fargo)
Since these early technology breakthroughs, the region continues building on its innovative culture. Many companies have come together to create a regional hub for sharing ideas and entrepreneurship.
- Phoenix international acquired by John Deere Intelligent Solutions
- Appareo Systems acquired by AgCo
- Harvest Profit acquired by John Deere
An initiative led by Emerging Prairie that aims to capitalize on the region’s potential in the agriculture and technology industries. The goal of the Grand Farm initiative is to create a fully autonomous farm that will impact the Fargo-Moorhead Community and beyond by developing new opportunities and accelerating change.
With NDSU, a land-grant research university, playing a lead role in innovative ag research and a collaborative, work-hard heritage, the region continues to build on its cutting edge innovations to feed the world.
FARMS (Food-systems Adapted for Resiliency and Maximized Security) is a collaborative ecosystem created by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines program, with an award up to $160 million, to solve global food insecurity and to create equitable agricultural opportunities. FARMS is powering ideas that feed the world and creates a global AgTech engine characterized by a flourishing ecosystem where new knowledge is co-designed into new technologies, services, and startups to address stressors impacting food insecurity and to establish equitable agricultural opportunity. Led by NDSU, FARMS is composed of a core group of partners including Grand Farm, the FMWF Chamber Foundation, and the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation. The FARMS ecosystem includes the North Dakota Tribal College System, the North Dakota Tribal communities, North Dakota universities and colleges, industry, non-profits, and other regional research universities. Through AgTech innovations, FARMS holds the potential to improve how the nation produces food for the world.
$28 million in infrastructure being built to enable drones across the state to fly Beyond the Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) of their pilots. This network would be the first of its kind anywhere in the world.
Industry Impact
Companies & Ecosystem Partners
Some of the biggest and strongest brands in ag equipment, technology, and manufacturing have been started or developed here.
Ecosystem overview
Our Partners
- Grand Farm
- Plug and Play
- NDSU
- NPUASTS
- Vantis
- NDSCS
Occupation Overview
Educational Completions
Education Pipeline in AgTech
Earnings
Educational Completions
Annual Job Openings in AgTech
Fargo-Moorhead’s labor market epitomizes the Midwestern work ethic. Local employers enjoy a stable base of employees with high productivity, low turnover and low absenteeism.
| SOC | Description | 2022 Jobs | Avg. Annual Openings | 2022 Hires | 2023 Hires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-3020 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | 277 | 27 | 85 | 87 |
| 15-1210 | Computer and Information Analysts | 279 | 50 | 113 | 150 |
| 15-1220 | Computer and Information Research Scientists | 14 | 6 | <10 | 17 |
| 15-1240 | Database and Network Administrators and Architects | 388 | 39 | 112 | 114 |
| 15-1250 | Software and Web Developers, Programmers, and Testers | 1,699 | 188 | 545 | 550 |
| 15-1290 | Miscellaneous Computer Occupations | 244 | 38 | 95 | 97 |
| 17-2020 | Agricultural Engineers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17-2060 | Computer Hardware Engineers | 101 | 15 | 25 | 26 |
| 17-2070 | Electrical and Electronics Engineers | 181 | 25 | 64 | 70 |
| 17-2140 | Mechanical Engineers | 203 | 19 | 64 | 68 |
| 19-1010 | Agricultural and Food Scientists | 223 | 35 | 140 | 143 |
| 19-4010 | Agricultural and Food Science Technicians | 133 | 27 | 86 | 85 |
| 41-4010 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing | 2,164 | 282 | 802 | 823 |
| 45-2010 | Agricultural Inspectors | <10 | 1 | <10 | <10 |
| 5,911 | 751 | 2,141 | 2,233 |
AgTech Earnings
Fargo-Moorhead’s labor market epitomizes the Midwestern work ethic. Local employers enjoy a stable base of employees with high productivity, low turnover and low absenteeism.
*Data Source: Lightcast
AgTech Industry Documents & Information
Education, Incentives and Information
There’s plenty talent to support your long-term success. From a strong K-12 pipeline to diverse classes that graduate plenty of talent.
The region also offers great incentives and capital resources to support our growing primary-sector businesses.
Ecosystem Overview
Vigilant Aerospace Systems
SkySkopes
Boson Motors
Testimonials
“It is a really neat environment, where folks with experience that want to help (along with) with new entrepreneurs trying to solve problems (that are) globally diverse; this is an area that is rich with transformational impact in agriculture.”
“Aigen’s move to North Dakota is a big step for us to strengthen our commitment to create jobs and build products made in the USA. We care about bringing together farming and technology and this is the heart of the agriculture innovation corridor. It’s exciting to be part of the community that accelerates the agriculture industry forward, making a positive impact for both farmers and consumers.”
