04/26/05 ISDA Director bullish on Idaho ag future

Idaho Department of Agriculture Director Pat Takasugi is optimistic about the future of agriculture in this state despite drought, two dollar 40 cent a gallon diesel, low commodity prices and ever rising input costs. TAKASUGI "Because in Idaho we have the growth in the dairies. Number two we've also been doing a lot of homework from our legislative side as well as from the agency side in working with biotechnology and all of the aspects of it. The future of agriculture I think is a positive one in the state." Like everyone else Takasugi wishes there was more water to go around but he also hopes that we never become dependent on other countries for our food. TAKASUGI "The general consumer to understand agriculture and understand its not a given and to understand that its not the same as any other business out there. Because you don't eat three times a day with other businesses but you do with food. And if we're going to be dependent on our food I think we enter a challenge as to risk management for home security." Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott