PRAIRIE DU SAC, WIS. — Ahead of the construction of a new state of the art dairy research facility, the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and University of Wisconsin–Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on June 10 at their 42-acre site in rural Wisconsin.

The research agency said its longstanding partnership with CALS will expand with the new facility, which is scheduled to be complete in 2027. 

ARS shared that the facility will focus on key issues that impact dairy farms in the United States. CALS will partner with ARS’ US Dairy Forage Research Center to administer the facility.

Once completed, the facility’s buildings will feature robotic milking systems, chambers that measure greenhouse gas emissions, an advanced animal nutrition unit, state of the art laboratories for agronomy and dairy science, offices, and a visitor center.

ARS administrator Dr. Simon Liu called the facility a testament to “unwavering support and advocacy” from stakeholders at all levels of the process.

“The construction of this new facility represents a continuum of cooperative research between ARS and UW–Madison CALS that builds on achievements of the past to meet the evolving needs of our dairy producers now and in the future,” Liu said.

Dr. Nora Lapitan, acting associate administrator for ARS, said the facility’s research will replicate conditions at modern dairy farms, with its studies involving, for example, free-stall pens, as well as automated milking systems that mirror the 35,000-plus such robotic units utilized on dairy farms throughout the world.

Additionally, ARS noted that holistic studies of dairy forage agroecosystems will be possible at the facility. The work will address issues such as improving manure management, applying nutrients back in the field, and preventing potential environmental impacts associated with manure use, including preventing manure-borne pathogens.

Located in Prairie Du Sac, Wis., northwest of Madison, Wis., the facility also will enable laboratory and field research focusing on improving soil health, as well as forage production and quality, dairy nutrition, milk production, climate change and much more.

Dean of CALS at the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Glenda Gillaspy said the school’s partnership with USDA has amplified its work with the state’s dairy industry.

“Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland, and we take very seriously our responsibility to conduct relevant research that can be put to use by our dairy farmers,” Gillaspy said.