08/07/07 Congress clears way for livestock center

The Senate has approved legislation that will allow the University of Idaho to sell some endowment land in Canyon County to help finance a 25 million dollar Magic Valley livestock research center. The University of Idaho's Rich Garber says the 320 acres of land near Caldwell is currently being used for hay production but its worth a lot more than that. GARBER "We're being encroached on by schools and urbanization and so we're not able to effectively use that property." The sale of the land could bring in as much as 20 million dollars, half of which would go to the livestock research center. Earlier this year the Idaho legislature approved ten million dollars for the center and the dairy industry says it will commit five million dollars to the center's construction. The non profit center is expected to be built in Jerome County, cover one thousand acres and hold 15 hundred cows. GARBER "I'm really really optimistic, encouraged by everything that's happened so far and we just feel like we're on track for what needs to happen." Once President Bush signs the legislation the Idaho Land Board can begin the process of getting the Canyon County endowment land appraised, listed and sold. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott