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Forest utilization program seeks workforce manager to train students on new logging technology
Summary
The Forest Utilization Research (FUR) program at the University of Idaho requested partial funding for a workforce development manager to supervise and train student employees on recently acquired advanced forestry equipment; program leaders said the equipment ($2 million) was purchased with logging proceeds and private gifts.
Kevin Campbell, the Legislative Services Office analyst, presented the Forest Utilization Research (FUR) program budget and said the program comprises research and training functions within the University of Idaho's College of Natural Resources. Campbell said FUR has 13.28 authorized FTP and a half‑FTP vacancy and that roughly 90% of FUR's expenditures are wages and benefits.
Dennis Becker, dean of the College of Natural Resources and director of the Forest Utilization Research Program, told the committee the program oversees a range of activities including the Policy Analysis Group, the Rangeland Center, the University of Idaho Experimental Forest, the Pickett Forest Nursery, Mica Creek Watershed Project and a recently added Wildland Fire Center. Becker said FUR is focused on workforce training and that the program recently purchased about $2,000,000 in advanced logging technology using logging proceeds and private industry support.
Becker asked the committee to fund a workforce development manager to supervise and train student employees on the new equipment and in the experimental forest. He said the manager would help convert student experience with the equipment into workforce skills needed by the industry. "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.
Campbell summarized recent appropriations history: FUR received $18,200 ongoing in FY2024 for personnel at its Wildland Fire Center and funding in FY2025 for a half‑FTE administrative specialist at its Boise location. For FY2026, FUR seeks partial funding for the workforce development manager position to support training and supervision of student employees.
Committee members offered no substantive objections during the brief Q&A and thanked the program director for his presentation. No formal votes or appropriations were taken during the hearing; committee staff will include FUR's request in upcoming budget deliberations and may ask for additional implementation details as part of program maintenance review.
