01/03/07 Gould on the job at ISDA

Celia Gould was getting acquainted with her new surroundings at the Idaho State Department of Agriculture yesterday. Governor Butch Otter's new State Agriculture Director succeeded Wilder farmer Pat Takasugi who held the job for the past ten years. Gould says she wants to take some time to meet with Governor Otter and state agriculture groups before setting specific priorities for the department. A third generation farmer from Buhl, Gould is married to former House Speaker Bruce Newcomb. She was a state representative for 16 years and has a degree from Boise State University in political science. Gould and the Department of Agriculture don't lack for issues in this new year. Because of the escape from elk from a domestic farm in eastern Idaho last year there will certainly be bills introduced in the state legislature in the next couple of weeks that could dramatically change that industry. ISDA also has the potato cyst nematode issue to deal with this year. The discovery last year confirmed the nematode for the first time in a small area near Blackfoot. Bluegrass field burning in the northern Idaho counties and agricultural burning in general should get attention once again this year, in the legislature and probably in the courts. In the weeks and months to come we'll keep you up to date on ISDA and issues that affect Idaho agriculture. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott