South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed House Bill 1118, approving the design and construction for an expansion to the South Dakota State University’s Swine Education and Research Facility, into law on Feb. 24. The expansion will move forward with a groundbreaking this summer.
“This addition to the SDSU Swine Education and Research Facility expands our research capacity, improves the efficiency of our operations and increases learning opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students,” Joe Cassady, SD Corn Endowed Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, said in a release. “The existing facility has dramatically expanded our research, outreach and educational outputs, and we look forward to those areas continuing to grow.”
The current facilities, built in 2016, include a sow teaching and intensive research building with multiple birthing setups, a wean-to-finish research barn and an off-site wean-to-finish production barn. This addition will expand the university’s finishing capacity, allowing it to raise all of the pigs born in the facility through to market.
South Dakota State University says this means additional opportunities for students and researchers alike.
“The expansion of the SDSU Swine Education and Research Facility is a significant step forward for both students and the pork industry across the region,” Glenn Muller, executive director of the South Dakota Pork Producers Council, said in a release. “This investment will give students more hands-on experience, which helps prepare them as the next generation of producers, veterinarians and industry professionals. From the industry perspective, expanded research capacity means more practical real-world solutions for pork producers. The South Dakota Pork Producers Council board of directors is proud to support efforts that strengthen education and advancements in our industry, and the signing of House Bill 1118 is doing just that.”
The project received support from several South Dakota commodity groups including the South Dakota Pork Producers Council, the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council and South Dakota Soybean. The money raised by these groups is expected to cover the entire cost of the expansion, highlighting how critical pork is to the broader South Dakota agriculture economy and the impact this bill will have on the industry, the release said.
“South Dakota’s pork producers are valued partners of our state’s corn farmers, and strengthening that partnership starts with continued investment in research and innovation,” South Dakota Corn Utilization Council President Jay Esser said in a release. “The proposed expansion to the South Dakota State University Swine Education and Research Facility — approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Larry Rhoden today — represents an important step forward for our state’s agricultural future. The South Dakota Corn Utilization Council is proud to support efforts that enhance research capabilities and create lasting benefits for agricultural producers across South Dakota.”
