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<blockquote type="cite" cite>Visionaires--this article may be of
interest.</blockquote>
<div><br>
<br>
</div>
<div>Tom Trail<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Ag News <br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Dairy industry, others, pursue new MV
research center<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>By Julie Pence, Ag Weekly
correspondent<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><img
src=
"http://www.agweekly.com/content/articles/2006/09/22/news/ag_news/news01.jpg"
><b>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.<br>
By Julie Pence Ag Weekly correspondent </b></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><b> </b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
"This will be the first research center of its kind," Quesnell
said. "Its mission is to study western style CAFOs."<br>
<br>
The facility would employee about 30 workers and have six or seven
scientists, he said.</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><b> </b><br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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."<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
"Obviously we are going to be studying the back end of a cow."<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>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.</blockquote>
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<div>Dr. Tom Trail<br>
International Trails<br>
1375 Mt. View Rd.<br>
Moscow, Id. 83843<br>
Tel: (208) 882-6077<br>
Fax: (208) 882-0896<br>
e mail ttrail@moscow.com</div>
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