Thanks to a $52 million agriculture bond initiative that Alabama’s voters approved in the Nov. 3 general election, Auburn University and other state colleges and universities will receive a new supply of funding to help build new classroom and research facilities in agriculture-related areas as well as upgrade existing ones.

Auburn University will receive the largest amount of bond issue money, $29.5 million. The funds will be divided among a number of projects at Auburn, including a new large animal teaching hospital, a new poultry science building, a new forestry building, and improvements to the Lambert meals Lab and various Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station posts.

Ground breaking for the new large animal clinic at Auburn should occur next year (1999) since the ag bond funds are in place.

The large animal hospital will be built in several phases with the total cost estimated to be $33 million. According to Dr. T. R. Boosinger, dean of Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, state funds, vet school money raised through tuition, lab fees, and private donations will cover construction costs. The facility is expect to be completed in 18-24 months.

The following monies will go to other educational institutions in Alabama: $2 million, Tuskeegee University to upgrade its veterinary and livestock facilities; $7.5 million, Alabama A&M for improving its agricultural research buildings.