By Scout Nelson
South Dakota State University continues to expand its leadership in precision agriculture education after receiving a major farmland donation to support livestock technology research and student learning opportunities.
South Dakota State University already holds a strong reputation in precision agriculture through the nation’s first four-year precision agriculture degree program and the Raven Precision Agriculture Center. The university also partners with the University of Debrecen in Hungary to help students study precision agriculture technologies.
Despite these advancements, retired professor Dick Nicolai recognized a need for stronger education related to precision livestock systems. Nicolai believed students would benefit from more training involving sensors, automation, ventilation systems, waste management, pasture systems, and virtual fencing technologies used in livestock operations.
“While assisting with various courses in animal science and agriculture systems, I noticed that students could benefit significantly from this opportunity to grow in precision livestock, especially in waste management,” Nicolai said. “But there are many more aspects of precision livestock that have developed recently and need to be covered in other courses, such as ventilation, pasture systems and virtual fencing. Technology is so much better than it was 20 years ago.”
Nicolai’s background in agriculture and engineering helped shape his interest in modern farming technology. After working with Ford Tractor and later at the University of Minnesota, he joined SDSU 25 years ago and taught courses focused on livestock environmental systems and agricultural engineering until retiring in 2011.
To help address the educational gap, Dick and Jeune Nicolai donated approximately 132 acres of farmland to support SDSU’s precision livestock program. The land was sold for about $2 million in March 2026, creating the Richard and Jeune Nicolai Endowed Professor in Precision Livestock Systems. The funding will support faculty salary enhancements, research activities, and program resources.
The new position will become the seventh endowed position within the Raven Precision Agriculture Center and will support collaboration between departments. University leaders say donations like this strengthen research, education, and long-term innovation across campus.
“As the university grows and stretches to achieve academic and research goals, endowed positions are one of the most important tools we have,” Sandager said. “We are able to attract the best and the brightest talent, make our university more resilient in the dynamic landscape of grant funding, and fulfill the land-grant mission of research, education and outreach much more comprehensively.”
More information about the position can be found on the SDSU Employment website.
Photo Credit: south-dakota-state-university
Categories: South Dakota, Education, Livestock