Washington Grain Alliance comments on giant Palouse earthworm

Washington Ag Today October 6, 2010 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been taking public comments on a second status review of the giant Palouse earthworm to determine if it should be listed as a threatened or endangered species. A previous petition to list the worm was rejected by the agency in 2007 and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision.

In commenting on this second review the Washington Grain Alliance stated it did not think the petitioner’s second effort has met the challenges laid down by the court and is simply a second draft of the original.

Washington Grain Commission member and Palouse area wheat grower Randy Suess, explains why producers are concerned about a potential listing.

Suess: “You know it could end up being a serious problem for us. I can foresee buffer zones or reduced chemical usage. I mean there are all kinds of things that can possibly happen. On the other hand, I still think they have to prove they are out there in these great numbers to begin with and that we actually harmed them with what we are doing with our farming practices. I don‘t know if that is really going to happen. Hopefully if we lay this to rest another time that will be the end of it but it is like anything when it comes to endangered species you never know. It could be brought up again in the future some time.”

In its comments the Grain Alliance suggested Fish and Wildlife not make a decision until research is done to see if the worm can be bred in captivity to increase numbers, just as is done with some other species.

The public comment period on this status review ended in late September.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net.

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