Construction seems to be the name of the game when it comes to the University of Idaho's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Earlier this school year, the College opened the new Potato Germplasm Lab on the Moscow campus. Dean Michael Parrella said this facility demonstrates not only CALS dedication to the local farming community, but also how agriculture impacts Idaho’s economy and beyond. He noted roughly 60% of the potatoes produced in the U.S., and roughly 90% of the spuds grown in Idaho can trace their origins back to this lab.

loading...

“It is a facility we’re very proud of.  It reflects the size and quality of the industry we have, and it doesn’t just support Idaho.  Obviously we have the Tri-State potato agreement, Oregon, Washington and Idaho.  Basically there’s about 300 different cultivars that are associated with this region and all of those cultivars are maintained in this facility and that supports breeding programs not only in this area but literally around the world.”

Another effort the UI is working on is the CAFE project in Rupert. With over 2,000 cows, this will be the largest research dairy in the U.S., but Rupert, he noted, is much more than dairy. Another component of CAFE is an adjacent demonstration farm, which is currently 600 acres in size, but Parrella is hopeful they can expand that.

“The plan there is to develop a long-term research program on agricultural sustainability and regenerative agriculture, in the Magic Valley, that looks at the crop rotations that occur there.  So, there’s wheat and sugar beets and there’s potatoes and there’s beans and there’s alfalfa and there’s corn and the list goes on and on basically. And while they’re connected to the dairy industry through nutrient management, the idea of understanding rotation, the use of water, healthy soil, all of that kind of stands by itself.”

Parrella noted the demonstration farm has caught the attention of Anheuser-Busch, which contributed $400,000 to focus on Idaho malt barley.

And he noted they continue to look towards the future. Parrella said they will go before the State Board of Education Thursday to get approval for the Plant Health facility in Parma.




If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia.com

More From PNW Ag Network