The Dairy Matters at K-State: Reach Out to Your Legislators

Dairy farmers and allied industry partners are encouraged to contact their legislators about the importance of modernizing the K-State Dairy Teaching & Research Center.

Now is the time for the Legislature and the Governor to support the rebuilding and modernization of the K-State Dairy Teaching and Research Center through state funding. Contact Legislators now to convey your support!

As dairy farmers, you’ve been working on this matter for more than a decade. Thus, here are the most important things to convey now:

Kansas Dairy Farmers alongside those who grow grain and forage, and our industry partners, are asking the Legislature to support the renovation and modernization of the 50-year-old K-State Dairy in Manhattan. The renovated Dairy Teaching and Research Center (DTRC) supports the $1.5 billion annual industry that has helped create around 8500 jobs. Kansas has doubled its milk production and that expansion is expected to continue.

Kansas Dairy Farmers support many other businesses throughout the state, including: veterinary, pharmaceutical, nutrition, trucking, breeding services and sales, repair services, construction, commodity and consulting services. Additionally, a portion of the milk is processed in state creating jobs in communities. More than 50% of Kansas-produced milk is processed out of state.

Kansas Dairy Farmers are asking the State Legislature and Governor to invest in Kansas’ own facilities by renovating an existing research and teaching unit at our land-grant university. This is to the benefit of all Kansas Dairy Farmers and allows the state to support the growing herd in Kansas. Kansas State already built the most difficult pieces needed for research, extension and teaching dairy: an industry-recognized staff of expert researchers with the ability to translate their findings into realworld results and a world-class herd that is one of the most productive in the United States. The only thing missing is the facility that supports how the industry is working today (not 50 years ago) and where it will be in the coming years. A modernized facility is imperative to retain faculty and dairy employees. The renovation will support the industry by helping create an educated workforce, prepared to go to work on the farm from day one.

The renovation also supports and impacts other programs within KSU, including the School of Veterinary Medicine, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Food Science, the emerging Ag Tech programs, Ag Econ and Business, plus others. Further, the renovation allows for greater research agreements funded by external partners.

Now is the time for the Legislature and the Governor to support the rebuilding and modernization of the K-State Dairy Teaching and Research Center through state funding. The state of Kansas has the money to do this now and it is an investment in the state’s own land-grant university, not an outside organization, which will support Kansas Farmers and Kansas Agriculture for years to come.

You can find the contact information for your local legislator using the Find Your Legislator tool.