Texas A&M University, announced recently that a new Southern Great Plains Dairy Consortium has been created, to help address the rapid expansion of dairy farming in the area.

The Southern Great Plains is rapidly becoming the land of not only beef, but milk, said a Texas Agricultural Experiment Station leader. During the past 10 years, a shift in milk production has transformed the West Texas/New Mexico milkshed into one of the top producing regions of the nation. This has created a demand for new research and Extension programs.

Teaching and graduate training programs are being updated as well and the consortium will coordinate research, education, Extension and diagnostic service programs. The consortium will develop and enhance technology, as well as deliver educational programs to enhance the efficiency and quality of milk production and reduce environmental effects.

Cooperating institutions and agencies are: New Mexico State University, Experiment Station, Extension, Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, West Texas A&M University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and cooperating dairy organizations from Texas and New Mexico.