Posted April 25, 2013

The U.S. Pork Center of Excellence in Ames will soon have a new home.

The Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has hosted the pork center since its inception, but recently announced it will no longer be able to host the center due to federal budget cuts.

The move is effective July 1.

Shortly after the university announced its decision, the UPSCE Board met via phone and accepted an offer from the National Pork Board to transfer oversight, management and staffing of the center to its Checkoff offices in Clive.

It’s uncertain whether the center will maintain any of the current full-time positions. The board will address such issues at its spring meeting on May 7.

The university’s decision will save the college overhead and administrative costs as it seeks to cut $600,000 from its budget in response to sequestration-prompted cuts.

The ISU ag college has hosted the pork center since its establishment in 2005.