Montana State Unveils $58 Million Combined State Laboratories Building

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Montana agriculture generates more than $4.4 billion annually in the market value of agricultural products sold.

The new facility consolidates three aging agricultural laboratories into a single modern building, aiming to enhance research, diagnostic, and testing capabilities critical to Montana’s $4.4 billion agriculture industry. This structural shift replaces laboratory spaces that were more than 70 years old, marking a significant upgrade in the state’s agricultural infrastructure.

The building houses the Montana Department of Livestock’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, the Montana Department of Agriculture’s Analytical Laboratory, and MSU’s Wool Laboratory, which processes 120 wool samples per hour. State leaders and university officials emphasized that this consolidation is a strategic investment designed to bring Montana’s agricultural support services to a world-class level. Guests toured the facility after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, with the labs set to support producers, researchers, and students for years to come.

New Combined State Laboratories building opens at MSU to support Montana agriculture
By Meghan Elaine, KTVH