University of Idaho dean to retire in June; pitches Parma viticulture specialist and CAFE operating support

Michael Perella, dean of the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, told the House Agricultural Affairs Committee he will retire in June and outlined staff, facility and funding priorities for the college.

"I have announced my retirement as of June of this year," Dean Michael Perella said. He briefed lawmakers on the college's land‑grant mission, recent faculty hires and the statewide extension network, and asked the committee to consider two enhancement requests: a viticulture and small‑fruits research and extension specialist position at the Parma Research and Extension Center, and state support for operating costs at the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE).

Perella described the college's statewide presence and recent growth: about 220 faculty in the college (more than half located off campus), roughly 75 new faculty hired during his nine‑year tenure, and an extension program that receives more than $6,000,000 from counties to support county extension work. He said Idaho 4‑H enrolls about 75,000 youth and is supported by roughly 2,000 volunteers. Perella told the committee the college ranks 13th among U.S. colleges of agriculture and is the top program in the Pacific Northwest.

On the Parma request, Perella said stakeholders identified a need for applied research and extension for the state's growing wine‑grape industry; he said Idaho has three recognized American Viticultural Areas and six distinct wine‑growing regions. "This position will be... statewide but could also deal with site‑specific aspects of viticulture production in the state," Perella said. He described the Parma Research and Extension Center's history, noting stakeholder meetings that led to rebuilding the facility and a renewed local faculty presence.

On CAFE, Perella said the college seeks 50% of the operating dollars for phase 1 construction; he said the $250,000 figure for phase‑1 operating support follows the State Board of Education formula used for similar projects. Perella described CAFE as dairy‑centric but multiuse — a facility that will support dairy education and veterinary rotations and link dairy to crop production, nutrient management and water‑use efficiency. "This will be a site for veterinarian rotations as well for large animals," he said, and added the facility is intended to be a shared resource for other Idaho institutions.

Perella also warned of long‑term challenges: he told lawmakers federal funding for land‑grant institutions has been largely flat and cited the need to increase agricultural productivity to meet future global food demand. He said his office tracked a loss of productive agricultural land in the state between 2017 and 2022 but the transcript figure on acreage was unclear; he emphasized the trend of farmland loss and said that equates to losing roughly one farm per day in Idaho.

Committee members thanked Perella for his service and asked about priorities going forward. Perella emphasized the land‑grant mission — research, teaching and extension — and highlighted the college's work on breeding programs, pest and invasive‑species management, and workforce training through ag education and FFA partnerships. Associate Dean Barbara Petty and other university staff attended and participated in the discussion.

The transcript records no committee vote or formal decision tied to Perella's requests during the meeting; Perella said the Parma and CAFE requests are enhancement items the college is seeking this budget cycle.