Cornell Dairy Operations can now transport almost twice as much milk -- and thereby use half as much fuel as before, thanks to a 4,200-gallon tanker truck transferred to Cornell by the New York State Department of Corrections.

New York Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker '84, New York Health Commissioner Richard Daines, M.D., and Susan A. Henry, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences, marked the occasion on campus June 23.

The truck, a 2003 model, can carry almost twice as much milk as the dairy's current 25-year-old truck. Jason Huck, general manager of Cornell's dairy plant, said the new truck would cut fuel costs in half by limiting the dairy to weekly trips between campus and the Cornell Dairy Teaching & Research Center in Harford, N.Y.

In addition to the tanker, the state has transferred dairy-processing equipment that will be installed as part of renovations to Stocking Hall.

"New York is a dairy state, and Cornell is a world leader in dairy and food science," Hooker said. "We are very pleased to be partners with Cornell in these areas."

The Cornell Dairy Plant, located in Stocking Hall and managed by the Department of Food Science, processes about 1.5 million gallons of milk annually, one-tenth of which is sold to campus dining halls and student group houses. Each week, Cornell ships 174,000 gallons of raw milk from the Harford facility to the dairy to be used in milk products, ice cream, yogurt and pudding. The new truck will also be used to haul apple cider produced at Cornell Orchards.

Ted Boscia is a staff writer in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.