University of Idaho seeks viticulture specialist and maintenance funding for research dairy

Michael Perella, dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Idaho, told the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee that the college is seeking a viticulture and small-fruits research and extension specialist to be based in Parma and building maintenance funding for the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment research dairy in Rupert.

Perella said the college is rooted in the land‑grant mission established by the Morrill Act, and he described the Hatch Act and the Smith‑Lever Act as foundations that tie research, extension and local application together. “February first actually marked my ninth year as the dean. I am retiring in June of this year,” Perella said as he opened his presentation to the committee.

The viticulture position would support Idaho’s growing wine-grape industry; Perella told the committee the state has three designated American Viticultural Areas and “6 distinct wine growing regions” that produce site‑specific characteristics for wine. He said the specialist would provide applied, site‑specific research and extension services to grape growers and act as a conduit for technical information in partnership with the Idaho Wine Commission.

Perella also described progress at the research dairy in Rupert, saying the rotary milking parlor is complete and the college is planning to have cows and begin milking “in hopefully a little less than a year.” He told the committee that operating and maintenance funding is needed to make that facility functional once animals arrive.

Perella reviewed broader college activities that provide context for the requests: 10 research and extension centers statewide, major breeding programs (potatoes, wheat, canola), and extension outreach including 4‑H. He said 4‑H reaches about 75,000 Idaho youth and more than 2,000 adult volunteers. He also noted the college has hired roughly 75 faculty during his tenure and emphasized the statewide scope of extension and experiment‑station work.

Committee members thanked Perella for his service and asked follow‑up questions about the dairy and agricultural expansion in regions such as Parma; Perella said viticulture and rotational crops are promising areas for expansion and that rotational crops can improve soil health and profitability for growers.

The committee did not take a vote on the college’s requests during the session; Perella closed by offering to answer questions and to make the presentation available to committee members.