12/15/06 Tagasuki out at ISDA

He served three Idaho governors; he won't serve under a fourth, Butch Otter. Pat Takasugi is headed back to his family farm in Canyon County at the end of the month. The Idaho State Department of Agriculture director will leave the job that he has held for the past ten years. TAKASUGI "It looks like they want to head a different direction and so this is their choice." It's obvious that Takasugi wanted to stay on as head of ISDA with its 400 plus employees and 30-million dollar a year budget. TAKASUGI "And there were still some things to finish up. I'm kind of one of those guys that I don't like to leave things undone. If there's any sour grapes it's not being able to finish some of the things I liked to have finished." Takasugi farms 15 hundred acres near Wilder and Homedale, raising alfalfa seed, bean seed and wheat. He says he's looking at raising new crops too. Takasugi says his successor won't lack important issues to solve beginning with potato cyst nematode. TAKASUGI "This PCN thing is probably a ten year project and there's going to be a lot of opportunities to mess that up. The smoke thing is a constant every burn season; dealing with water quality and air quality." Who will replace Takasugi? Governor-elect Butch Otter's transition team is still talking to current and prospective department heads and has yet to submit its recommendations to Otter. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott