Kansas State University’s aging Dairy Science Unit is set to be replaced with funding from the state budget. Senator J.R. Claeys of Salina announced that $36 million in funding and bonding authority will support the replacement of the 1977 facility, which is no longer equipped to effectively teach students or conduct research using outdated methods. The current facility also supports various programs within the university, including large-animal veterinary programs. Despite its importance, replacing the facility was not prioritized by Kansas State University for the current legislative session, leaving Senator Claeys and Representative Ken Rahjes to advocate for it without official university support.
Senator Claeys emphasized the need for innovation within Kansas’ agriculture industry, which remains the top industry in the state. With a new cheese factory set to open in western Kansas and locally grown feed, adding dairy to the state’s agriculture portfolio is seen as a more sensible option than shipping commodities out of state and then bringing them back in. The research conducted at the new facility is expected to drive innovation within the state’s dairy industry.