Since its inception nearly a decade ago, the Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture (M-AAA) has bridged a powerful connection between Michigan animal ag industries and Michigan State University faculty, creating pathways industries can use to communicate research needs and granting opportunities faculty can take advantage of to deliver results.

Formed by Michigan’s animal ag and allied industries, MSU’s colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Veterinary Medicine, MSU AgBioResearch, MSU Extension and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, M-AAA has helped ag industries — such as Michigan dairy — grow and strengthen through MSU research and outreach, according to Sheila Burkhardt, chief corporate affairs officer of the Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA).

“Through the creation of M-AAA, it has really deepened the partnership among the dairy industry, ag industry and research arm of MSU,” Burkhardt said. “Part of the M-AAA criteria in putting research requests out there is dependent on what the industry wants. I would say that’s a huge highlight of where research used to be to where it is now. It’s been a big change because of M-AAA in getting the highlights and topics that we’d like to see from the industry perspective addressed in research.”

For one research topic, in particular, results recently shared by MSU have left many within Michigan dairy over the past year to say, “Holy cow!”