Dr. Mark Boggess



Dr. Mark Boggess was raised on a diversified crop and livestock family farm in rural Southwest Iowa where he was active in 4-H and FFA. He received a BS degree in Animal Science from Iowa State University; an MS in Animal Breeding from Cornell University; and a PhD in Animal Breeding from Iowa State.

Since 2009, Dr. Boggess has worked for the USDA Agriculture Research Service (ARS) in Beltsville, Maryland. He began his career with ARS as the National Program Leader in Food Animal Production; more recently he assumed similar duties for the Pasture, Forage and Rangeland Systems program. In these roles he provided primary leadership for ARS research across the US, including programs for genetics and genomics, nutrition, reproductive physiology, animal welfare and meat quality. He also provided leadership to develop and integrate improved pasture and rangeland management practices and land-use/renovation strategies. These programs are focused on optimizing economic viability and environmental sustainability for diverse stakeholder groups responsible for managing forages, vegetation, livestock and natural resources on private and public lands.

Dr. Boggess has a diverse, industry-based background in animal sciences and production. He served as a Swine and Beef Cattle Extension Specialist with the University of Idaho in Twin Falls from 1990 to 1994. In 1994 he became President of Salmon Creek Farms LLC in Twin Falls, Idaho, where was responsible for development of the Salmon Creek Farms Natural Pork program and branded product line. In 2004, Dr. Boggess assumed the position of Director of the Animal Science Committee for the National Pork Board where he was responsible for program direction and industry funding coordination for research. Dr. Boggess also served as the NPB liaison for animal science to producers, academia, media, regulators and the National Pork Producers Council, and he directed numerous pork industry-based advisory groups. From 1996 to 2008 he also was an owner/operator for a 450-cow purebred Angus and Simmental beef seed stock operation.

Dr. Boggess replaces Dr. Neal Martin who directed the Center from 1999 to 2013. The U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center is located in Madison, WI with a research farm in Prairie du Sac, WI and an Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit in Marshfield, WI. Eighteen scientists conduct research to improve the utilization of forages in dairy cattle diets and to reduce the environmental impact of dairy farm systems.
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4.16.2014