[Vision2020] (no subject)

Sat Sep 23 16:28:41 PDT 2006

My guess, J, is that the current facility (at the North Farm), which
maintains 200 milk cows, is too small to support 1,500 milk cows, and that
there is insufficient space to expand the current facility.

Tom Hansen
Vandalville, Idaho

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in
sideways, chocolate in one hand, a drink in the other, body thoroughly used
up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO. What a ride!'"

-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of J Ford
Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 4:15 PM
To: ttrail at moscow.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] (no subject)

Why Magic Valley?  Why not here, where they are already located?  Why not 
just update what is here?

J  :]

>From: Tom Trail <ttrail at moscow.com>
>To: vision2020 at mail-gw.fsr.net
>Subject: [Vision2020] (no subject)
>Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 15:10:32 -0700
>
>>Visionaires--this article may be of interest.
>
>
>Tom Trail
>
>>
>>Ag News
>>
>>Dairy industry, others, pursue new MV research center
>>
>>By Julie Pence, Ag Weekly correspondent
>>
>>  Mike Quesnell, president of the Idaho Dairy Association, confirmed this 
>>week that several entities, including his group, the University of Idaho 
>>and the Idaho National Laboratory are pursuing a new livestock research 
>>cener to be located somewhere in Magic Valley.
>>By Julie Pence Ag Weekly correspondent
>>
>>
>>TWIN FALLS, Idaho n Magic Valley, known as the heart of Idaho dairy 
>>country, could soon be the site for a state-of-the-art livestock research 
>>center.
>>
>>Leaders in the dairy industry have confirmed that the University of Idaho,

>>along with the Idaho Dairymen's Association, the Idaho National Laboratory

>>and other entities are pursuing a dairy facility to replace the classic 
>>old-fashioned barn on the Moscow campus.
>>
>>The new dairy center would accommodate about 1,500 milk cows and cost 
>>about $30 million to develop over several years, said Rich Garber, who 
>>represents the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences for the 
>>University of Idaho. The facility in Moscow, which accommodates only about

>>200 cows, no longer serves the current livestock industry, said Mike 
>>Quesnell, president of the dairy association.
>>
>>These days, Idaho dairies have thousands of milk cows on each site, and 
>>most dairies are located some 450 miles south of Moscow in a more arid 
>>climate. This new paradigm in the livestock industry has presented new 
>>challenges, and so university and dairy officials began discussions a few 
>>years ago for a new research center, said Sen. Tom Gannon, R-Buhl, who is 
>>vice-chairman of the Idaho Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee.
>>
>>"This will be the first research center of its kind," Quesnell said. "Its 
>>mission is to study western style CAFOs."
>>
>>The facility would employee about 30 workers and have six or seven 
>>scientists, he said.
>>
>>
>>Idaho's dairy industry, which is estimated to have generated $1.4 billion 
>>last year, is fourth in the nation for the number of dairy cows, with 
>>about 455,000 milkers. The Magic and Treasure valleys are hubs for the new

>>style of dairies. Magic Valley has more than 315,000 dairy cows, and the 
>>Treasure Valley has about 98,000.
>>
>>California has by far the most dairy cows with 1.76 million dairy cows. 
>>According to Garber, Idaho is poised for another major expansion n up to 
>>25 percent, and within the next few years will move into third place in 
>>the nation.
>>
>>While cows numbers nationwide have declined by almost 1.1 million head n 
>>that's 11 percent - during the past 15 years, the number of cows in the 
>>West has increased by 37 percent. Eastern U.S. cow numbers have been 
>>declining, most likely as a result of specialized, high-producing dairy 
>>farms replacing the smaller farms more traditional to the Eastern dairying

>>region, while in 11 Western states numbers have progressively risen, 
>>industry leaders say.
>>
>>Garber said having a center with a herd more than seven times larger than 
>>that currently at the University of Idaho will allow researchers to 
>>establish "real world comparisons."
>>
>>Quesnell explained: "We want to study the relationship and impact these 
>>CAFOs have on irrigated cropland, and we also want to learn more about 
>>their relationship to the soil, water and air, and most importantly, the 
>>impact they have on the human populations around them.
>>
>>"Obviously we are going to be studying the back end of a cow."
>>
>>In addition, Quesnell said, the center will offer researchers 
>>opportunities to study energy production. That explains why INL, which 
>>specializes in energy projects, is interested in participating, he said.
>>
>>Those promoting the center are looking for funding sources from the 
>>university, the Idaho dairy industry and the state and federal governments

>>Proponents plan to approach lawmakers during the 2007 legislative session 
>>to discuss funding, Garber said.
>>
>>At the same time, dairy leaders are discussing ideas with College of 
>>Southern Idaho for more classes to train dairy workers. For example, there

>>is a need for more welding, electrical and facility-management training, 
>>Quesnell said.
>
>--
>Dr. Tom Trail
>International Trails
>1375 Mt. View Rd.
>Moscow, Id. 83843
>Tel:  (208) 882-6077
>Fax:  (208) 882-0896
>e mail ttrail at moscow.com

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