Idaho Partners with Monsanto for Dairy Research Center

The State of Idaho is planning to construct the Idaho Center for Livestock and Environmental Studies, a $37 million dairy research facility. Possible sites include the Magic Valley area and Minidoka County. Monsanto will contribute $1 million to the facility’s construction, with $4 million in additional contributions expected from other industry partners. The University of Idaho will contribute $20 million, as the facility will support the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The 1,000-acre facility will be an environmental research center for dairy and livestock and will operate as a self-sustaining animal feeding operation. The project will also include space for the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and the Caine Veterinary Teaching Center in Caldwell. The center, which will break ground in 2009, may house a digester.