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University forest research program asks for workforce manager to train students on $2M in logging equipment
Summary
The Forest Utilization Research Program (FUR/FERR) at the University of Idaho asked the Joint Finance Committee for partial funding to hire a workforce development manager to supervise and train student employees on recently acquired advanced forestry equipment. The program says it bought about $2 million in technology and needs staff capacity to
The Forest Utilization Research Program (FUR) at the University of Idaho told the Joint Finance Committee it seeks partial funding for a workforce development manager to supervise student employees and train them on recently acquired advanced forestry equipment.
Kevin Campbell, a budget analyst with the Legislative Services Office, said FUR operates the University of Idaho experimental forest and associated facilities and has 13.28 authorized full‑time positions with a half‑FTE vacancy. He described FUR’s program areas — the Policy Analysis Group, Rangeland Center, the experimental forest, the Pickett Forest Nursery, Mica Creek watershed project and the Wildland Fire Center — and noted the program’s emphasis on workforce training.
Dennis Becker, dean of the College of Natural Resources and director of the program, told the committee that FUR recently purchased about $2,000,000 in advanced logging technology funded by logging proceeds and private industry partners. “This workforce development manager will be really important for helping us to train those students which we currently do not have capacity for,” Becker said, asking the committee to support the governor’s recommendation for the position.
Campbell said the requested manager would supervise and train student employees in the experimental forest so students can operate new equipment and gain workforce skills. Historically, the program’s expenditures are dominated by wages and benefits (roughly 90% of expenditures), with operating expenses around 10% and capital outlay minimal.
The committee had no substantive follow‑up questions and did not take a funding vote during the hearing. FUR representatives said they will pursue the manager position if the Legislature approves the requested partial funding and that the role is central to delivering hands‑on workforce training using the newly acquired equipment.
