The new $30 million precision agriculture center that is going to be built at South Dakota State University is going to be called the Raven Precision Agriculture Center, after Raven Industries, which pledged $5 million to the project.

Raven Industries, headquartered in Sioux Falls, S.D., is a leading precision agriculture company.

The South Dakota Board of Regents recently approved the name of the new facility.

When completed, the Raven Precision Agriculture Center will bring agronomy, engineering and computer science disciplines under one roof, where students and faculty can collaborate, conduct research and innovate.

"The need for advanced technology and solutions within the precision agriculture industry is growing, as is the need for highly-engaged and skilled workforce," says Dan Rykhus, president and CEO of Raven Industries.

"The Raven Precision Agriculture Center was designed to have a long-lasting impact on innovation and technology within the industry, and we are honored to have this exceptional facility named after our company," he says.

"The new Raven Precision Agriculture Center will support our students pursuing the first four-year degree in precision agriculture in the country. We appreciate the partnerships we have with Raven and others which make it possible for our students to learn the skills that will help them make a positive impact on the world," says Dr. John Killefer, South Dakota Corn Utilization Council endowed dean of the South Dakota State University College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences.

"The new Raven Precision Agriculture Center will be transformational with regard to our ability to lead the nation in teaching, research and outreach in all areas impacted by the benefits of precision agriculture," he says. Students who are trained in this new facility will provide a workforce that will be uniquely qualified and ready to provide value within the agriculture industry. We fully believe this state-of-the-art facility will lead to the development of new technologies and industry partnerships that will resonate in the agricultural industry for generations to come."

A construction timeline for the project has not yet been set.

Raven Industries, headquartered in Sioux Falls, S.D., is a leader in precision agriculture, high-performance specialty films, and lighter-than-air technologies. For more information, visit ravenind.com.

Sources: Raven Industries and SDSU