SUMMARY

History of the Program

The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) began helping Idaho residents and farmers develop their expertise in the early 1890s. Today, the college is charged with a three- part mission to advance the health and welfare of people, animals and the environment through research, teaching and outreach in agriculture, community, human and rural development, natural resources, nutrition and life sciences.

The Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station (IAES) is the research division of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and is responsible for statewide programming in agricultural research to help farmers on resolving problems and discovering new opportunities. Established in 1892 using federal appropriations under the Hatch Act, IAES includes nine Research and Extension Centers and nearly 4,000 acres of land located across the state.

The ability to share the teaching and research conducted in the college is made possible by the Smith-Lever Act of 1914, which established University of Idaho Extension – a system administered by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Faculty and staff located in four Extension Districts and 42 Extension offices provide research-based education in agriculture, community development, family and consumer sciences, and natural resources to Idaho’s citizens in 44 counties, including 4-H Youth Development programming.

The Idaho Veterinary Medical Education Program (addressed separately) in partnership with Washington-Idaho-Montana-Utah (WIMU), transfers science-based medical information and technology concerning animal well-being, zoonotic diseases, and food safety through education, research, public service, and outreach – to veterinary students, veterinarians, animal owners, and the public, thereby effecting positive change in the livelihood of the people of Idaho and the region.

Services Provided

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

CALS faculty and students are finding solutions to the world’s most critical challenges to create and sustain an abundant food and energy supply, a healthy environment and successful families and communities. The college is staffed with 200 faculty members to support nearly 1,000 undergraduates and 180 graduate students among eight academic departments, including Agricultural and Extension Education; Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology; Animal and Veterinary Science; Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology; the U of I/WSU School of Food Science; the Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences; Plant Science; and Soil and Water Systems.

Agricultural Research in Idaho

The University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the Department of Biological Engineering in the College of Engineering conduct research critical to Idaho’s agriculture, an important foundation for the state’s economy. In CALS, the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station (IAES) helps the state’s farmers and ranchers, rural communities, and consumers benefit from research focused on resolving problems and discovering new opportunities.

Hatch Act funding provided $2,722,886 to support agricultural research at U of I in FY17. In FY16 69.7 research FTE positions receiving Hatch Act funding produced 186 publications, filed three plant variety patent applications, received seven plant variety patents and generated nearly $35 million in research project expenditures. Funding from additional federal, state and other sources totaled $29.2 million.

The college and the IAES work closely with Idaho’s 17 commodity commissions and a broad range of stakeholder groups from the farming and ranching communities. IAES researchers address issues related to yields, production efficiencies, markets, and many other facets of crop and animal agriculture.

The college receives significant support from stakeholders, counties and the legislature. For example, significant legislative and stakeholder resources and support have been provided for the Idaho CAFE initiative. The legislature partnered with the Idaho Potato Commission, Idaho Seed Potato producers and NW Farm Credit Service in support of the new seed potato germplasm facility. The legislature provided support for new graduate student housing at the Aberdeen R&E Center. In addition, significant stakeholder support has been provided by the Idaho Wheat Commission with the $2 million gift for the Endowed Chair in Agricultural Commodity Risk Management to benefit Idaho CAFE, and their gifts to fund two endowed professorships in wheat breeding. The Idaho Barley Commission has provided funds to support of Idaho CAFE as well as funding an endowed professorship in barley breeding. Stakeholders have also contributed funds for the building of the new classroom facility at the Nancy M. Cummings R&E Center in Carmen, the Rinker Rock Creek Ranch purchase, and the recent purchase of the Sandpoint Organic Agricultural Center.

Major Accomplishments

• Idaho is the nation’s top potato producer, with production of over 132 million CWT and cash receipts of over $900 million in 2014. Nearly 90 percent of all potatoes grown in Idaho trace their germplasm back to the CALS seed potato germplasm facility. The potato processing industry in Idaho employs almost 8,000 people and contributes over $500 million to the state’s economy.

o U of I researchers help Idaho’s potato growers combat pests, including the pale cyst nematode, potato virus y and potato psyllids. Psyllids are tiny insects that can transmit the bacterium that causes zebra chip, which causes fried potato products to darken and renders them unsaleable.

o An international potato cyst nematode project led by U of I seeks to find effective ways to eradicate pale-cyst nematodes from Idaho. Researchers also seek to develop nematode-resistant russet potato varieties suitable for Northwest growers and markets.

o McDonald’s approved the use of two new potato varieties, the Clearwater russet and the Blazer russet, for use in its French fries. The selection process is rigorous and has implications in the millions of dollars for potato growers in Idaho and elsewhere. The new varieties were produced by the Tri-State Potato Breeding Program. The new varieties reduce growers’ production costs and have enhanced consumer benefits. The Clearwater russet, for example, requires less nitrogen fertilizer and water, reducing costs and environmental impacts, and contains one-third more protein than the russet Burbank, which is the gold standard for potato processing qualities but is a century-old variety that is challenging to grow.

• CALS researchers won the opening phase of the George Barley Water Prize, a multi- year, $10 million competition sponsored by the Miami-based Everglades Foundation. The prize is intended to attract the world’s best scientific minds to find new solutions to nutrient pollution of vital freshwater supplies and uncontrolled growth of toxic algae that result.

Short-Term and Long-term Needs/Goals

Short-term (four-year) needs/goals:

• U of I must expand its ability support Idaho’s agriculture industry, which has become increasingly animal-based. Of the total $8.8 billion in cash receipts in 2014, 66 percent came from animals and their products and 34 percent from crop production. Over half of the receipts from animal production are from dairy products ($3.2 billion in 2014).

• Generate support and planning for the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE), a $45 million research and education enterprise to support Idaho’s agricultural industries and the growing food processing industry.

• Expand expertise and collaboration focused on plant and animal genomics. A new Genome Editing and Transformation Laboratory has been established in concert with expanded capabilities within the IAES.

• Pursue enhanced livestock and rangeland research opportunities through collaboration with the College of Natural Resources, the Rangeland Center, and The Nature Conservancy and the Wood River Land Trust at Rinker Rock Creek Ranch near Hailey, Idaho.

• Build the Agricultural Commodity Risk Management program, in collaboration with the College of Business and Economics, into premier programs for undergraduate and graduate education.

• Raise funds to begin renovations of the Parma Research and Extension Center, and add faculty and staff to both Parma R&E Center and the Sandpoint Organic Agricultural Center to address the increasingly important viticulture and small fruit production in both northern and southern Idaho.

Long-term (10-year) needs/goals:

• Agricultural experiment station facilities throughout the nation and in Idaho are aging. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities estimates current replacement needs at $8.4 billion nationwide, as of 2015. We estimate $58 million needed for facilities and equipment modernization in Idaho.

• Raise funding to modernize the R&E Centers to allow for molecular-based tools for genomics, identification of pest diagnostics and early detection of “new” invasive species.

• Add resources for new and improved facilities and state-of-the-art technology, and integrate across disciplines, to address emerging complex challenges facing agriculture in Idaho and the region.

Extension in Idaho

The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 established a system of cooperative Extension services connected to land-grant universities such as the University of Idaho. U of I Extension and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences carry out activities to make practical, research- based knowledge available to people to help them live healthy, productive lives. U of I receives $2.9 million annually from federal Smith-Lever funding. That funding is combined with $11.4 million from the state of Idaho, $4.6 million from Idaho counties and $7.7 million from grants.

Extension’s community outreach mission is critical to the land-grant university’s purpose and is critical to Idaho’s agriculture, communities and people of all ages. The Idaho 4-H Youth Development program provides healthy living and leadership programs for thousands of young people in rural and urban settings. U of I Extension operates with extensive stakeholder involvement at all levels.

Major Accomplishments

• U of I Extension, in partnership with TechHelp, works with the food processing industry to improve manufacturing processes, conduct food safety certification and provide food safety, HACCP, vocational and technical skills training for industry employees. The U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology conducted independent surveys of food safety and dairy processing public workshops provided to Idaho food and dairy processors. Survey results indicated that the project helped create and retain jobs at these processors, and there was $11,663,522 in quantified economic impact.

• U of I Extension 4-H Youth Development provided after-school, club based and special interest educational programming for over 70,000 young people across the state. A myriad of programs provided education to volunteer-led educational projects ranging from STEM projects in robotics, rocketry and animal husbandry to cooking, sewing and gardening. U of I Extension 4-H Robotics managed the FIRST program in Idaho. FIRST is the premiere international educational robotics program responsible for promoting and channeling youth interest in and pursuit of STEM careers. Teen programming included Know Your Government in Boise during the legislative session and State Teen Association Convention on the Moscow campus focusing on career exploration. Youth active in 4-H pursue education beyond high school at 63 percent, compared to the statewide rate of 42 percent.

• The growing interest in locally grown meat and produce led U of I Extension educators to develop a concurrent, multi-part hybrid course statewide to help beginning farmers and ranchers learn about the legal and business considerations for starting their own operations. Delivery methods included webinars, in-person facilitation and farm tours. This program was offered to 170 individuals at nine different sites across the state, with 86 percent of the participants taking first steps in establishing their farm or ranch.

• In FY2017, U of I Extension’s Eat Smart Idaho program partnered with over 146 community partners to provide nutrition education and physical activity programming to low-resource Idahoans in 37 of Idaho’s 44 counties. Through direct education classes and policies, systems and environmental projects, participants in Eat Smart Idaho programming increased their knowledge of and access to healthy foods, improved their diet quality, increased their daily physical activity, and reported increased food security. Environmental changes were made in 29 schools and 41 food pantries/food drives were conducted to help make the healthy choice the easy choice and healthy social marketing messages reached an estimated 215,717 low- resource individuals. A study of Eat Smart Idaho graduates concluded that Idaho will save $14.55 in future health care costs for every $1 invested in healthy living education through Eat Smart Idaho.

• To help young people and their families enjoy healthier lives, 4-H nutrition advisors worked with the Eat Smart Idaho program for low-income and underserved audiences to help people understand basic nutrition principles and lead more active lives. The statewide health and nutrition topic team held more than 800 teaching events that reached 33,600 individuals with the goal of reducing the incidence of obesity and related health issues.

• An international potato conference, regional cereal school workshops for wheat and barley growers, and instructional field days throughout the state helped Idaho farmers learn new developments affecting Idaho crops, improve the efficacy and safety of pesticide management, learn about new potato varieties, and enhance their efficiency to meet market demands. The information provided through Extension activities focused on increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of Idaho agriculture, large and small.

• U of I Extension’s Idaho Master Gardeners, a program that trains volunteers to provide expert gardening and home landscaping information to the public, enhanced its efforts by digitally expanding gardening information through social media. The audience use of Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest increased by 243 percent, 150 percent and 33 percent, respectively, over the past two years. In addition, news articles were written for the Idaho Statesman, which is the largest local news publication in the state. This led to a 32-week Master Gardener gardening series of articles and videos on a variety of topics.

Short-term and Long-term Critical Needs/Goals

Short term (four-year) needs/goals:

• Through Idaho CAFE. the Rinker Rock Creek Ranch, the nine Research and Extension Centers, and the Sandpoint Organic Agricultural Center:

o U of I Extension will continue to assist large- and small-scale farmers, dairymen, and ranchers improve their economic competitiveness through enhanced training in managing market risk through the Agricultural Commodity Risk Management Extension programs.

o Researchers and Extension educators will collaborate across disciplines using the latest technologies to improve the sustainability and reducing the environmental impacts of farm production practices. New crop varieties, irrigation, pest and disease management practices will be tested with results delivered to the producers. Educational programs will provide timely, accurate, research-based information and will focus on using new technology in agriculture.

o U of I Extension will support the needs of the food processing industry by continuing to provide trainings to improve manufacturing processes, conduct food safety certification and provide food safety, HACCP, vocational and technical skills training for industry employees. Educational programming will bring new technologies discovered by U of I researchers to food processing.

• U of I Extension via its 4-H and other youth programs will address the Idaho go-on rate by working with youth to comprehend the personal value of post-secondary education and prepare them for career opportunities in STEM-related fields. Permanent funding for four additional Extension Educators has been requested from the Idaho legislature for FY20 to grow the 4-H STEM programs across Idaho.

• U of I Extension will expand programs to address nutrition and nutrition education to help residents lead healthier, more active lives. U of I Extension will continue to offer workshops and peer-led educational opportunities that increase knowledge about nutrition and provide strategies to reduce the risk of obesity.

Long-term (10-year) needs/goals:

• U of I Extension will continue to support efforts to encourage more Idaho residents to pursue higher education opportunities by working with youth and place-bound individuals to help the state increase the preparedness of its workforce for future job opportunities.

• As a part of a national initiative, Well Connected Communities, U of I Extension will establish health coalitions in specifically targeted communities to foster a culture of health. The local coalition will develop and implement action plans to address top public health priorities for their areas. We will dedicate a minimum of two faculty FTE to this initiative.

• U of I Extension will expand programming to meet the needs of a growing include organic food production at the Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center.

• Agriculture and Agribusinesses contribute 20 percent of Idaho’s economy; U of I Extension will deliver research-based education and information to ensure this contribution to Idaho’s economy remains healthy and vital.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The Morrill Act: Idaho Code Section 33-2901, assent of the legislature of the state of Idaho to all the provisions of an act of Congress, approved July 2, 1862, entitled, “An act donating public lands to the several states which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts, and the acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto.

College of Agriculture and the Morrill Act: Pursuant to Idaho Code Section 33-2813, the action of the regents of the University of Idaho, in establishing and maintaining a college of agriculture in connection with the university at Moscow, and in accordance with an act of Congress, approved July 2, 1862, and known as the land-grant act 1, as supplemented by an act of Congress for the more complete endowment and support of colleges of agriculture and mechanic arts, approved August 30, 1890, is a proper exercise of the lawful powers of the regents as set forth in the act creating the university, and the clauses of the state constitution confirming the same. Additionally, the said action of the regents in establishing and maintaining the said college of agriculture in accordance with said laws, is hereby expressly approved and confirmed.

Agricultural Experiment Stations (Hatch Act): Idaho Code Section 33-2902 sets out the legislative assent to the Hatch Act to establish agricultural experimental stations in connection with the colleges established in the several states under the provisions of an act approved July 2, 1862, and the acts supplemental thereto,” and the acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto.

Cooperative Agricultural Extension • (Smith-Lever Act): Idaho Code Section 33-2904 sets out legislative assent to the Smith-Lever Act to provide for cooperative agricultural extension work. The State Board of Education and Board of Regents of the University of Idaho are authorized and empowered to receive the grants of money appropriated under such act, and to organize and conduct agricultural extension work which shall be carried on in connection with the terms and conditions expressed in the act.

• (Purnell Act): Idaho Code Sections 33-2905 and 2906 sets out legislative assent to the Purnell Act which authorized more complete endowment of agricultural experimentation (since repealed) and authorized the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho to receive money appropriated under the act in accordance with the terms of the act.

• Act of Congress May 22, 1928: Idaho Code Section 33-2908 sets out legislative assent to an act of Congress approved May 22, 1928, for the further development of agricultural extension work between the agricultural colleges in the several states receiving the benefits of the Morrill Act and authorizes the State Board of Education and Board of Regents of the University of Idaho to receive the grants of money appropriated under said act and to organize and conduct agricultural extension work which shall be carried on in connection with the college of agriculture of the state university in accordance with the terms and conditions expressed in the said act of Congress.

Certification of Seeds and Plants: Chapter 15, Title 22 Idaho Code establishes the program for certification of Seeds and Plants within the state of Idaho.

• The Board of Regents of the University of Idaho through the Idaho agricultural experiment station in the College of Agriculture of the University of Idaho is authorized to administer the provisions of this chapter to establish, alter, amend and repeal, in compliance with the provisions of chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code, reasonable rules and regulations as to what shall constitute certified seeds, tubers, plants and plant parts under the terms of this chapter.

• The Idaho agricultural experiment station or an agent of the University of Idaho appointed, in writing, shall be responsible to obtain and maintain sources of basic seed stocks which include breeder class and foundation class seed of public varieties or strains of crops deemed appropriate by the director of the Idaho agricultural experiment station. Basic seed stocks, limited generation certified seed tubers, plant or plant parts shall first be made available for production in Idaho.

Bean Experiment Station: Chapter 29, Title 22 Idaho Code authorizes the regents of the University of Idaho to establish the bean growing experiment station for the purpose of conducting and carrying on experiments and experimental work to improve the quality of beans, to insure the purity of seed beans, and to develop new and better types of beans and methods of bean culture and utilization.

FACILITIES INFORMATION

Facilities: • 42 county Extension offices: Ada County (Boise), Adams County (Council), Bannock county (Pocatello), Bear Lake county (Montpelier), Benewah county (St. Maries), Bingham County (Blackfoot), Blaine County (Hailey), Bonner County (Sandpoint), Bonneville County (Idaho Falls), Boundary County (Bonners Ferry), Butte county (Arco), Camas county (Fairfield), Canyon county (Caldwell), Caribou County (Soda Springs), Cassia county (Burley), Clark County (Dubois), Clearwater County (Orofino), Coeur d’Alene Reservation Program (Plummer), Custer County (Challis), Elmore County (Mountain Home), Fort Hall Reservation Program (Fort Hall), Franklin County (Preston), Fremont County (St. Anthony), Gem and Boise counties (Emmett), Gooding County (Gooding), Idaho County (Grangeville), Jefferson county (Rigby), Jerome county (Jerome), Kootenai county (Coeur d’Alene), Latah County (Moscow), Lemhi County (Salmon), Lewis County (Nezperce), Lincoln county (Shoshone), Madison county (Rexburg), Minidoka county (Rupert), Nez Perce County (Lewiston), Nez Perce Reservation Program (Lapwai), Oneida County (Malad), Owyhee County (Marsing), Payette County (Payette), Power county (American Falls), Teton County (Driggs), Twin Falls County (Twin Falls), Valley County (Cascade), Washington County (Weiser) • 9 Research & Extension Centers: Aberdeen; Caldwell; Idaho Falls; Kimberly; Nancy M. Cummings (Salmon); Palouse (Moscow); Parma; Tetonia; Twin Falls • 10 major buildings on U of I campus • 5 USDA-ARS cooperative programs

Total Acreage: • Sandpoint: 78 acres • Moscow: 1,249 acres • Parma: 200 acres • Caldwell: 280 acres • Caine Center: 40 acres • Hagerman: 4 acres • Kimberly: 178 acres • Aberdeen: 464 acres • Tetonia: 585 acres • Salmon: 1,044 acres