University of Idaho Ag Research and Extension Outlines Budget Needs; Dean Perella to Retire

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Feb. 10 received an overview of the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) budget, research and extension operations, and FY2026 budget requests. Dean Michael Perella and college staff answered committee questions about research infrastructure, program outcomes and federal grant activity.

Kevin Campbell of the Legislative Services Office presented the budget overview, saying the Agricultural Research and Extension Service maintains a presence in 42 of Idaho's 44 counties and operates 10 research and extension centers with access to more than 14,000 acres. He reported a current FTP of about 341.33 and said approximately 81% of the service's expenditures are personnel costs.

Dean Michael Perella introduced key staff and announced his planned retirement in June. Perella summarized progress on facilities and faculty hiring, described new research infrastructure such as the Idaho Center for Plant and Soil Health in Parma, and emphasized nutrition and soil-health research. "You are what you eat," Perella said while underscoring the college's work linking agricultural production to human health.

Committee members questioned the role and ongoing cost of adult computer-literacy programs that had been supported with ARPA funding. Perella and staff said extension's mission covers families, communities and workforce development in addition to production agriculture, and that extension used ARPA funds for adult computer literacy and related digital-economy training in rural areas. Perella noted the college and partners applied for a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) competitive grant; he said one awarded project in the national competition would provide about $13 million and that recipients would coordinate with two-year and four-year institutions across the state.

Lawmakers asked about metrics and outcomes for extension programming. Perella said extension logged more than 450,000 face-to-face contacts with Idahoans last year and engaged more than 75,000 youth in 4-H programs. He said faculty have leveraged state support to attract federal and private grants and that the college ranked 13th nationally among agricultural science programs.

Representative Handy asked whether researchers and extension were shifting emphasis from yield to nutritional value in crops such as walnuts; Perella said nutrition is an active and growing focus on campus and described grants and programs aligned with human health and dietetics.

Senator Rose and other committee members raised the concern that one-time federal funds can create ongoing program expectations if the legislature later assumes those costs. Committee staff said they are preparing a review of federally funded programs across agencies to understand duplicative services, program effectiveness and which efforts may require state follow-up funding.

Perella thanked the legislature for prior investments that funded new research and extension facilities and helped reduce staff turnover. He noted a recent appropriation for change in employee compensation reduced turnover from 14% to 11% in fiscal year 2024. Perella said the college would continue to pursue external competitive grants to augment state funding.

No committee votes were taken on the Agricultural Research and Extension Service budget during this hearing. Committee members requested written follow-up on program outcomes, the status and details of the FCC grant application, and the budget breakdown showing how personnel costs are distributed between the college's central staff and personnel located at community and technical colleges and research centers.