BROOKINGS — South Dakota State University recently announced it will close its dairy farm in June.

Despite funding being appropriated from the state legislature, the cost of modifying the current building was too great and fundraising efforts were not successful, according to university officials.

The farm, located a little more than a mile north of campus, held around 150 head of dairy cattle and was used for faculty research and as a student lab setting. It was first built in the 1960s and was redone in the 1990s.

Joseph Cassaday, dean of the College of Agriculture, released a statement on the closing.

“After exploring all fundraising opportunities and modifying plans for a workable solution to rebuild the SDSU Dairy Research and Training Facility, the university has decided to discontinue operations at the facility by the end of June 2024,” Cassady said.

The statement said initial cost estimates to build a new SDSU Dairy Research and Training Facility were $50 million, and even with alternative modifications and renovations, the estimated cost would exceed $28 million.

The Legislature appropriated $7.5 million for the project.

“South Dakota State University will continue to offer the same high-quality degree programs in dairy production, dairy manufacturing and food science,” Cassady continued. “We will work with dairy industry partners to provide opportunities in modern, large-scale dairy production facilities for student experiential learning and internships. These decisions will not impact production at the Davis Dairy Plant nor interrupt research taking place in that facility.”

South Dakota Dairy Producers also released a statement on the closing.

 “The SDSU Dairy Research Farm has a history which runs deep with many dairy farmers and those within the dairy industry, so of course news of the farm ceasing operations in June 2024 is concerning. This legacy has led to the dairy production farm not only developing relevant dairy research and opportunities for students, but also a pipeline of workers, employees, and resources to the dairy farmers and the growing dairy industry in South Dakota," the organization wrote. "In more recent times this growth of the dairy industry in South Dakota has led to more modern dairy farms, not reducing the need for research and innovation; but perhaps changing the location or process of how the research is accomplished. The South Dakota dairy community also has a long history of working together. We look forward to engaging with the SDSU Dairy Science Department and university leadership on a path forward which not only maintains the strength of the department, but expands opportunities for students and the department going forward.”