Pete Jones is the project manager for University of Idaho’s Center
for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (Idaho CAFE) currently under
construction in Rupert. Ag Proud – Idaho’s Cassidy
Woolsey caught up with Jones to learn more about what is soon to be the nation's largest research dairy, located right here in Idaho.
What are you most excited for the Idaho dairy industry to get that it doesn’t have now with the opening of CAFE?
JONES: I’m excited to see a more systematic, scientific approach to applied dairy research. The dairy industry is unique in how we constantly find better ways to do things, but we don’t always understand why something works or doesn’t because it’s so difficult to control the sheer number of variables on a dairy farm.
What is your role in leading CAFE? Who are the key stakeholders besides yourself? Why do you feel you’re the 'right guy' for the job?
JONES: I’ve been given the title of “project manager." My job includes construction oversight, serving as a liaison between all stakeholders like industry and advisory groups, and developing a comprehensive business plan for the center.
Internal and external stakeholders include:
- University of Idaho, specifically:
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS)
- Architectural and Engineering Services (AES)
- College of Business (Barker Capital Management and Trading Program and opportunities the dairy will provide in risk management)
- Idaho Dairymen’s Association
- DairyWest
- Idaho Milk Processors Association
And countless other members of industry, agribusiness, individual and corporate donors, sponsors and advisers who are helping move the project forward in many different ways.
I am the ideal candidate for this interim position due to my unique and diverse background. Several years ago, I was a partner at the accounting firm that authored the 2018 feasibility study for CAFE. I then transitioned to the industry, where I managed the business aspects of a large commercial dairy operation. After the unexpected passing of the owner, his family entrusted me with running the entire operation, a role I fulfilled for nearly three years until we sold all the assets this year. Additionally, as a proud Vandal, I am fluent in the necessary languages of government, academia, business and operations this project requires.
What do you think will surprise dairymen most about this facility?
JONES: I think dairymen will be surprised by the amount of thought and technology we’re using. The Idaho dairy industry is consolidating, like the rest of the country, and smaller farms are being bought and modernized and upgraded; however, most dairy farms are still milking in the older-style parallel barns and feeding from open feed areas. We have built a rotary milking parlor and are building a smaller commodity building, and while both of these are typically used by large farms, we’ve adapted them to be cost-effective and accessible for smaller farms.
What is the biggest misconception about the facility itself or its mission you would like to dispel?
JONES: The biggest misconceptions about the project are the numbers – the cost and time to complete. The vision for CAFE has continually evolved over multiple decades at this point. At various stages, costs varied between $15 million and $20 million for the entire project. Today, the project will cost $40 million for all the facilities located at the research dairy being built near Rupert. This includes the cost to purchase the land; prepare the land (including blasting volcanic rock) for construction; build all the necessary facilities to mandatory state, university and animal research standards; and include the construction of a classroom and office facility to maximize the teaching, research and outreach conducted at CAFE.
The misconception that the project would cost less comes from either a portion of the entire construction budget, numbers in the 2018 feasibility study or assumptions made before the impacts of COVID-19 on inflation and the workforce. As for the timeline, the project has taken longer to complete for similar reasons, largely COVID-19 impacts and a desire to bid phases of the project for construction at the right time to ensure we are being responsible stewards of the monies invested in this project. Currently, we are on track with construction to have cows on-site and begin milking in early 2026.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how pleased with the pace and progress of the build are you? Is it behind or on schedule?
JONES: In a world where it seems nothing ever goes fast enough and everything is always over-budget, we’re on schedule and within budget so far on this project. I’m optimistic that with the professional firms we’ve hired, we can stay that way through the end of construction.
In the next six months, what is the most critical piece to get right for the success of CAFE?
JONES: It might take more than six months, but hiring the “right” operations manager for CAFE is the most critical piece to get right. I feel this is an important position to onboard well in advance of completion, so they can get their feet under them, learn the facility before we have live animals and contribute to the final design and setup.
