Source: Idaho Dairymen’s Association
Elanco, an animal health company based in Greenfield, Ind., has given the IDEAL Foundation $1 million toward the proposed National Center for Livestock and Environmental Studies (INCLES).
Accepting the gift from Rob Aukerman, President of Elanco USA were Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter; University of Idaho President Duane Nellis; President and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation, Jerry Kozak; and President of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, Mike Roth.
The announcement, made during an Idaho Dairymen’s Association Producer and Allied Industry meeting Aug. 25 at Canyon Crest Dining and Event Center in Twin Falls, 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.
“This will help us 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,” said Nellis.
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 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.
