The Revitalization of Animal Agriculture in Michigan Initiative

Initiated by the state's animal industries, the Revitalization of Animal Agriculture in Michigan Initiative was funded by more than $70 million in state appropriations. In 1993-94, the Michigan legislature, with the approval of Gov. Engler, appropriated about $70 million to fund the facilities improvement part of the initiative. In 1994, an additional $4 million was provided to implement the program component.

The initiative added new buildings to the MSU campus and modernized older ones. New facilities include the Infectious Disease Containment Facility, the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education, the Equine Teaching and Research Center, the Swine Teaching and Research Center, the Turkey Research Facility, a new milking parlor and an intensive metabolism facility at the Dairy Teaching and Research Center barn and renovations to the cattle handling facilities, installation of a truck scale, remodeling of the intensive physiology and metabolism room and upgrades to the electrical system at the Beef Cattle Research Center. Anthony Hall, home of the Department of Animal Science, was completely renovated, as was the Meats Lab and the Dairy Plant.

The initiative also strengthened academic programs, provided for more researchers to be hired and added more MSU Extension agents to directly assist farmers. The combination of improved and new facilities, coupled with added investment in expanded programming capacity, is enabling the industry to plan and move strategically for a more productive future, a future that is enhancing the state's economy, creating new jobs and addressing industry concerns.