Major dairy-processing facilities in or near South Dakota

• Valley Queen Cheese Factory: Milbank, S.D.

• Davisco Foods International: Lake Norden, S.D.

• Bel Brands USA: Brookings, S.D.

• South Dakota State University Dairy Plant: Brookings

• DairiConcepts: Pollock, S.D.

• Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI): Hoven: S.D.

• Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI): Freeman: S.D.

• Dimock Dairy: Dimock: S.D.

• Dean Foods: Sioux Falls, S.D.

• Agropur: Hull, Iowa

• Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI): Sanborn, Iowa

• Dean Foods: LeMars, Iowa

Professor Vikram Mistry, head of the dairy science program, says SDSU is one of two universities in the nation that has programs in both dairy production and dairy manufacturing. The other one is California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. SDSU also has a dairy plant that is used for teaching and research. The plant produces ice cream, cheese, butter and milk that are sold on campus. SDSU ice cream also is sold in select grocery stores in the region.

“We have faculty members that do research that helps the industry. We have teaching at the graduate and undergraduate level. We produce students that train in dairy, both production dairy and manufacturing,” Vikram says. The dairy program has been placing 100 percent of its graduates in jobs for years, he says. He encourages young people looking for a promising career to consider studying dairy.

“I think it is a very exciting time for the dairy industry in South Dakota,” he says.

Rob Swenson Contributing writer RobSwensonMediaServices@gmail.com