USDA Under Secretary Visits MSU, Tours New Dairy Facility

Photo by Ralf R

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) visited the Michigan State University campus April 6 to tour the new Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center, as well as meet with students from the Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT).

Leading the delegation was Richard Fordyce,

USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. Also on the tour were Joel Johnson, Michigan’s state director of the USDA Farm Service Agency, and Dom Restuccia, Michigan’s state director for USDA Rural Development.

The $75 million Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center began operations in 2025 and houses research, teaching and outreach opportunities to advance the dairy industry, Michigan’s largest agricultural commodity at more than $15.7 billion in economic impact annually.

The center supports a significant expansion of the MSU dairy herd to nearly 700 cattle, which allows for more research addressing the industry’s needs, from improved nutritional strategies to mitigating diseases.

“The facility is amazing,” Fordyce said. “When students have access to this type of hands-on learning experience, it’s critical for their educational experience and for the Michigan dairy industry.”

MSU AgBioResearch Director George Smith,

led the tour and emphasized that partnerships across Michigan agriculture led to the dairy’s construction.

“I’ve often said that partnerships in Michigan agriculture are truly special, and we’re extremely fortunate that our partners advocated strongly on behalf of the new center to secure funding from the State of Michigan,” Smith said. “This is a transformational investment for our state’s dairy industry, and it’s a privilege to share with Under Secretary Fordyce the research innovations made at MSU. We appreciate his passion and support for agriculture industries across the country.”

After the dairy facility tour, Fordyce met with IAT students for a roundtable conversation. The IAT operates on the MSU campus, as well as with several community colleges around the state, to deliver two-year certificate programs grounded in practical education, skill development and applied experiences. There are 15 certificate programs, including dairy management, agricultural operations, and fruit and vegetable crop management.

Students shared information about their backgrounds with the USDA representatives, including Johnson, who is an IAT graduate.

“I really appreciated the opportunity to talk to the students,” Fordyce said. “I have always loved working with young people in agriculture, whether those students come from agriculture backgrounds or not. When you engage with people in agriculture, you’re working with some of the best people.”

READ THE ARTICLE ON THE MSU AGBIORESEARCH WEBSITE.

Michigan State University AgBioResearch scientists discover dynamic solutions for food systems and the environment. More than 300 MSU faculty conduct leading-edge research on a variety of topics, from health and agriculture to natural resources. Originally formed in 1888 as the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU AgBioResearch oversees numerous on-campus research facilities, as well as 15 outlying centers throughout Michigan. To learn more, visit agbioresearch.msu.edu.