University of Idaho agriculture dean announces June retirement; requests viticulture specialist, CAFE operating funds

Michael Perella, dean of the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, told the House Agriculture Affairs Committee that he has announced his retirement effective in June and used his appearance to summarize the college’s position and two budget enhancement requests.

Perella said the college has added about 75 faculty during his nine‑year tenure and has rebuilt or upgraded several off‑campus research and extension facilities. "I have announced my retirement as of June of this year," he told the committee, thanking lawmakers for prior investments that he said positioned the college "to continue to contribute to agricultural productivity in the state."

Perella reviewed the land‑grant roots of the college and reminded the committee of the Morrill Act (1862), the Hatch Act (1887) and the Smith‑Lever Act (1914) as the statutory basis for the college’s research and cooperative extension mission. He said the college’s work spans applied crop and livestock research, extension, 4‑H youth development, family and community programs, and workforce training.

Perella described two specific enhancement requests included in the college’s budgeting materials. The first is a viticulture and small‑fruits research and extension specialist to be based at the Parma Research and Extension Center. Perella said the position grew from stakeholder meetings beginning in 2018, and he framed it as a statewide position with site‑specific duties in Idaho’s wine regions. He told the committee Idaho has multiple recognized American Viticultural Areas and "a burgeoning wine grape industry," and he cited a figure used in the presentation that the industry represents roughly $357,000,000 in farm‑gate value.

The second request is operating (building maintenance) support for the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, known as CAFE. Perella said the college is requesting 50% of the operating dollars for phase one and that the $250,000 figure followed the State Board of Education formula. He described CAFE as a multi‑institution facility intended to serve veterinary rotations, link dairy systems to crop production and support research at scale.

Committee members asked questions about Parma, CAFE and other college priorities. Perella emphasized concerns about the loss of productive agricultural land and rising pressures that he said threaten long‑term productivity. He urged continued investment in land‑grant research, breeding programs and extension to maintain productivity and to address a projected global need for substantially more food by midcentury.

Perella introduced college staff in the room, including Rachel Bickerton (director of government and external affairs for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences), Barbara Petty (associate dean for extension and director of University of Idaho Extension) and Melinda Jean Stafford (director of development). He closed by standing for committee questions.

Ending

Perella thanked the committee for support of the college and said he considered the past nine years a highlight of his career. He asked legislators to continue investments that he said are needed to sustain research, extension and workforce training.