Recently, the state budget has been revised to include funding aimed at replacing the aging Dairy Science Unit at Kansas State University. Senator J.R. Claeys of Salina announced that $36 million in funding and bonding authority has been allocated in the budget to support the replacement of the 1977 facility. The goal is to help the dairy industry in Kansas double in size, with matching funds from the industry required to reach a $40 million dairy on campus.
The current dairy facility at Kansas State University, despite being considered modern when it was built 47 years ago, is no longer equipped to effectively teach students or conduct research using outdated methods. Additionally, the facility supports various programs within the university, including large-animal veterinary programs. Although replacing this facility has been a priority for many years, it was not prioritized during this legislative session by Kansas State University without official support from Senator Claeys, Representative Ken Rahjes, and the Dairy Farmers of America advocating for it.
Senator Claeys emphasized the importance of continually innovating 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 available locally produced milk could be seen as more sensible option than shipping commodities out of state and then bringing them back in.