The Forest Utilization Research Program (FIRR), affiliated with the University of Idaho’s College of Natural Resources, asked the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee for partial FY2026 funding to hire a workforce development manager to supervise and train student employees on newly acquired advanced forestry equipment.

Kevin Campbell of the Legislative Services Office presented the FIRR budget request and said FIRR has 13.28 authorized FTP with one half FTE vacant. Dennis Becker, dean of the College of Natural Resources and director of FIRR, told the committee FIRR manages the University of Idaho experimental forest, tree farms, the Rangeland Center, the Mica Creek Watershed Project and other properties used for research and workforce training.

Becker said FIRR recently purchased about $2,000,000 in advanced logging technology paid for with logging proceeds and private industry assistance. The program is seeking a workforce development manager — a position the governor recommended — to provide student supervision and specialized training required to operate and maintain the new equipment. Becker told the committee that current staff capacity is insufficient to train students on the acquired technology and that the requested manager would support workforce training and help prepare students for jobs in the forest products industry.

Why it matters: FIRR said the new equipment expands hands-on training opportunities that are directly relevant to Idaho’s timber and forest-products employers. Committee members did not raise substantive objections and had no follow-up questions recorded in the transcript.

Ending: Becker thanked the committee and noted FIRR’s focus on workforce training; the program said it will continue to provide details to the committee as requested.