Impact is everything and there are fewer places the University of Idaho has more impact than in Idaho agriculture and forestry. That was made clear by Gov. Brad Little â with the support of our Legislature â last week when he signed the âBuilding Idahoâs Futureâ bill. The bill allocates $3 million for infrastructure improvements to help construct the Idaho Center for Plant and Soil Health facility at the U of I Parma Research and Extension Center and $700,000 to construct new, updated greenhouses to better meet tree seedling research and reforestation needs of the state. Much has changed in research since the buildings were constructed in Parma 50 years ago. Despite the antiquated facilities, the researchers have, since 1925, helped advance agricultural research in the state. The unique location blends the many growing challenges of Idaho â from 120 acres of row crop and hop research to 80 acres of desert land, 30 acres of which is devoted to tree fruit and small fruit research. Lara Brown, a masterâs student, knows firsthand how important a comprehensive research facility is. She works directly with producers to better understand soil-borne diseases to help protect grains and dry beans vital to Idahoâs economy. Mike Thortonâs research on potatoes begins with students â not only finding ways to grow better potatoes but also helping disseminate that information to Idahoâs potato growers â allowing students to be involved in all three legs of a land-grant university: education, research and outreach. The Parma center also has 5,100 square feet of greenhouse space to grow crops year-round. A new vegetable and fruit storage facility for post-harvest management research and 540 square feet of growth chamber rooms for entomology research projects make Parma the universityâs most comprehensive research site. The new plant and soil health facility is in the design phase. Later this spring, when state funding is available, it will be combined with a matching $3 million from industry and another $1 million from the university to fund construction. Groundbreaking is expected in Spring 2022 with completion of this dynamic agricultural research facility in 2023. The much-needed renovation will ensure we continue to recruit and retain world-class faculty who are critical to advancing research that benefits all of Idaho agriculture. Aging buildings are an ongoing problem for a 130-year-old university. But Vandals have an amazing way of succeeding. The Franklin H. Pitkin Forest Nursery on the eastern edge of Moscow is one of just two commercial-scale research nurseries in the West. Here, our researchers lead projects on conifers specifically found in the Northwest and also provide nursery training around the world â including ongoing education for restoration of forests in Togo. But the greenhouse technology is more than 30 years old and needs repair and replacement to meet the growing needs of the state. The university and Idaho Department of Lands work closely, and a new opportunity in this partnership is to improve survival of seedlings under drought conditions and for reforestation after wildfires. This requires new and updated greenhouses, the result of which is better-suited seedlings, in larger quantity â helping offset the need to turn to Canada and neighboring states to meet Idahoâs seedling needs. The seedlings are also used to replant our Experimental Forest, creating revenue to put toward the greenhouse project while creating unique hands-on learning experiences in forest management for our students. The governorâs investment in these projects underscores the impact U of I has on the foundational economies of this state, the students in these disciplines and the future of Idahoâs farm and forestlands. |