11/05/07 Surprises do pop up

Idaho State Department of Agriculture Director Celia Gould says it was a difficult time for her earlier this year when agricultural field burning was banned. A federal appeals court last February told the Environmental Protection Agency that it had to reconsider its authorization for field burning in Idaho. Environmental groups like SAFE, Safe Air for Everyone, claim the ruling was a victory for everyone. That's not the way the North Idaho Farmers Association saw it. They say burning their fields was the only viable way to keep a healthy stand for Kentucky bluegrass seed production. Gould is hopeful that agricultural field burning can resume some day. GOULD "We're not giving up hope on that. As a matter of fact we remain encouraged that we can negotiate out some kind of solution. The further down that road we go the more hopeful we and we've got both parties at the table and the two agencies that are directly involved in that, DEQ and the Department of Agriculture, meeting on a regular basis." The object there is to develop a new implementation plan and a model for agricultural field burning in the state. Gould says the goal, one she calls ambitious, is to have something worked out prior to the next burning season but any plan has to have the blessing of the Environmental Protection Agency and the courts. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott