03/04/08 Barton, acting state vet

Bill Barton has been on the job for only a few days. BARTON "It's a high intensity job with a lot of responsibility and one of those things that you've just got to just state on top of it." Dr Barton is now the acting administrator of the Idaho Department of Agriculture's Division of Animal Industries and acting State Veterinarian. He succeeds Dr Greg Ledbetter who resigned unexpectedly last week after spending 27 months on the job. Barton joined the Idaho State Department of Agriculture in late 2006 after 17 years in private veterinary practice in Donnelly. So what's ahead for Barton and Animal Industries? BARTON "No substantial changes that I foresee in the near future. We have some positions that prior to this change were going to be changed; one getting married and moving away out of state and so we've filled that position." Barton says he'll continue to communicate with groups like the Farm Bureau, Food Producers, cattle and dairy industry leaders. BARTON "Dr Ledbetter set a really good precedent. Just following in his footsteps is not going to be easy but he laid some really good groundwork for us." ISDA has not announced whether a search for a permanent replacement will take place but Barton says he'd be interested in applying if that's the case. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott