Michael Parrella

Finding veterinarians in rural communities, especially vets that work with large animals is becoming more and more difficult.  Because of this growing problem, several western schools have teams up to try to address the problem for farm country.  Michael...

On Tuesday, Cargill announced a $500,000 donation to the University of Idaho for the CAFE project outside of Rupert.  Cargill noted in Tuesday’s announcement supporting the next generation of sustainability experts is important not only to the company, but the dairy sector as a whole.  University of...

As lawmakers prepare to focus on the 2023 Farm Bill in the coming months, what impact it could have on the farming community across the Pacific Northwest remains to be seen.  But Michael Parrella, dean of the University of Idaho's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences said this go around could be good news, especially for the Palouse.   “...

Four students in the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences have earned $20,000 scholarships through the Chobani Scholars program.  All four of those students, who are new to CALS hail from the Magic Valley area.  The sch...

On Wednesday, the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences announced a big grant to help farmers combat climate change.  The award from USDA could total $55 million, and is the largest award in the university’s history, and nearly twice as large as any priori U of I grant.  In addition to supportin...

The rapid increase of inflation this year has impacted each one of us in a variety of ways.  At the University of Idaho, inflation has led to cost overruns for several key capital projects.  And while overruns are not abnormal when it comes to construction, the size of that overrun is what has school officials looking for additional funding sources.   Michael Pa...

Scoular recently announced a $500,000 donation to the University of Idaho to help fund the CAFE initiative.  When complete, CAFE, the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, will include a 2,000-cow research dairy and 640 acre demonstration farm near Rupert.  When constru...

The University of Idaho held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for the dairy facility at the Idaho Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, better known as Idaho CAFE.  When complete, the $45 million project will be the largest research dairy in the nation, housing over 2,000 cows.  College...

On Wednesday, Chobani announced a $1 million gift to the University of Idaho-led Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, better known as CAFE. The gift will be used to help fund construction of the nation’s largest research dairy. With deep roo ...

Despite the challenges of the pandemic and distance learning, fall enrollment at the University of Idaho increased 5% from 2020 to 2021. In addition, enrollment at the College of Agricultural Life Sciences jumped by nearly 12%. CALS Dean Michael Parrella said that enrollment jump would be incredibly exciting under normal circumstances, but to do so during a pandemic, is even more impressive ...