Several North Dakota schools are still looking for agriculture teachers, as the school year nears.

Doug Vannurden, an assistant supervisor with the state office of Career and Technical Education, said he is looking for ag teachers for five school districts: Trenton, Wishek, Parshall, Mott-Regent and Underwood.

Vannurden said that if no ag teachers can be found in those districts before school starts, the superintendents might have to shut down the ag programs for a while or find temporary substitute teachers.

The state lost one high school vocational agriculture department this past year when the Rhame school district was consolidated into the Bowman district, Vannurden said. However, one new vo-ag program is being added in Casselton, he said.

North Dakota has 78 vo-ag programs.

- Associated Press