Thursday, South Dakota Senate Appropriation Committee members introduced legislation to upgrade and expand the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Lab at SDSU. The measure was introduced on behalf of Governor Dennis Daugaard. South Dakota Pork Producers Council Executive Director Glenn Muller says he’s glad to see the measure and now the key is finding the right funding mix to get the project completed.

He says introduction of this legislation is a good first step in funding the project.

In addition to proposed funding from the state general fund, the bill includes several agriculture related fees to cover much of the $3 million per year bond payment. Muller says the lab will benefit more than just agriculture and so the state needs to share in the cost of the project.

The lab was built in 1967 and last upgraded in 1993, so it needs to be modernized to correct aging infrastructure, accommodate new technologies and meet current and future health and biosecurity standards.