9-17 FB $Million to Dairy

 One million dollar donation to the proposed National Center for Livestock and Environmental Studies. I’m David Sparks and I have that story for you.  Elanco, an animal health company based in Greenfield, Ind., gave the IDEAL Foundation $1 million toward the proposed National Center for Livestock and Environmental Studies program to be associated with the University of Idaho.

The announcement was made during an Idaho Dairymen's Association Producer and Allied Industry meeting at Canyon Crest Dining and Event Center in Twin Falls, and gave further hope to regional, state and university officials that private donations could meet the $5 million mark needed to build the planned center sooner than later. Costs for the center are estimated at $17 million, with $5 million coming from the dairy industry. Here’s Executive Director of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, Bob Naerbout discussing the intentions underlying the donation. “The purpose of the donation no matter where we are as a dairy industry, we’ll always be addressing the environmental issues that we do create or people presume we create The one million dollar contribution  will help leverage additional donations from the private sector because it shows that significant members of the livestock industry are still serious about this, despite the troubles in our economy."

The development of INCLES is a joint effort being led by the University of Idaho in partnership with USDA – Agricultural Research Service, College of Southern Idaho, the Idaho livestock industry and allied industry. The research facility will be located in the Magic Valley area of Idaho.  “This is a research facility is dedicated to environmental research and will be critical to producers in the nation to help us address the environmental challenges we face” said Jerry Kozak, national Chairmen of the IDEAL Foundations fundraising efforts.  To date, the private sector has donated more than $1.7 million to the Foundation toward the project. The IDEAL Foundation is a 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization that was developed by the Idaho Dairymen’s Association to secure funding for both the research facility and to fund environmental research.