BROOKINGS, S.D. (9-9-26) — The South Dakota State University Swine Education and Research Facility will increase its wean-to-finish capacity by 50% after a $1.8 million expansion. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Sept. 8 outside of the new addition.
Built in 2016, the unit has supported hands-on learning, applied research and industry outreach in modern swine production over the last decade. The expansion will increase the number of wean-to-finish rooms to six, allowing all pigs born at the facility to be raised through market weight on site.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured speakers from supporting agriculture organizations as well as SDSU President Barry Dunn and SD Corn Endowed Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Joe Cassady.
Bob Thaler, Farm Credit Services of America Endowed Chair in Swine Production, was the event’s master of ceremonies. He said the expansion will make a positive impact for producers.
“Our swine team really focuses on production research,” said Thaler, an SDSU Extension swine specialist. “They want to answer the immediate questions of producers. And so basically, by increasing that wean-to-finish capacity by 50%, we’re going to be able to do a lot more nursery and finishing trials.”
The project received incredible support from several commodity groups and agricultural organizations across the region, including the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, South Dakota Pork Producers Council, South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council and the Minnesota Pork Board. The amount of money raised by these groups covered the entire cost of the expansion, highlighting how critical pork is to the regional agriculture economy.
“This is a wonderful example of cross-commodity cooperation,” said DaNita Murray, SD Corn executive director. “Since I came back to South Dakota to work in ag policy, it has been absolutely a pleasure and a joy to work with Jerry (SD Soybean) and Glenn (SD Pork) and folks across the commodity-spectrum to make things like this happen. It wouldn’t be possible without cooperation amongst the commodities. I really appreciate that aspect of South Dakota agriculture and hope it does nothing but continue and strengthen as the years go by.”
South Dakota Corn was the lead donor in the project with a $1.2 million gift.
“When our board voted to support the research expansion, we did so with an eye toward the future,” said Jay Esser, president of the SD Corn Utilization Council. “These dollars will help strengthen the pork industry here in South Dakota as well as the research that goes on at SDSU.”
Members of SDSU leadership said they can’t thank the supporting groups enough in helping make the expansion happen. The partnering organizations supported the university in 2016, investing more than $7 million to build the original facility, and continued that support a decade later with additional gifts to support the expansion.
“Through these partnerships, that we are so grateful for, we are moving South Dakota forward. This is a perfect example of industry and a land-grant university coming together for a shared purpose. I couldn’t be more proud,” Dunn said.
The new facilities will be fully operational by mid-October, increasing SDSU’s total wean-to-finish capacity to 1,800 head.
The Department of Animal Science and SDSU Extension will also host SDSU Swine Day on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Club 71 in Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. The event will feature a research poster competition, expert presentations and a keynote speaker. The event is free and open to the public. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration is open until Sept. 23.
About South Dakota State University
Founded in 1881, South Dakota State University is the state’s Morrill Act land-grant institution as well as its largest, most comprehensive school of higher education. SDSU confers degrees from seven different colleges representing more than 230 majors, minors and specializations. The institution also offers 39 master’s degree programs, 17 Ph.D. and two professional programs.
The work of the university is carried out on a residential campus in Brookings, at sites in Sioux Falls, Pierre and Rapid City, and through Extension offices and Agricultural Experiment Station research sites across the state. SDSU’s research expenditures for the 2025 fiscal year were more than $94 million. SDSU has a Doctoral University: High Research Activity designation on The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
For more information:SDSU News • www.sdstate.edu
— From SDSU University Marketing and Communications
