06/12/06 Department of Ag changes; winter wheat

Pat Takasugi is in but his Deputy Director is out. Idaho Governor Jim Risch is changing the look of state government at the top. He's already replaced the Health and Welfare Director along with the heads of the Human Resources and State Transportation Departments. Risch will keep Pat Takasugi on as his Director of the Department of Agriculture, a post he's held now under three governors. But Risch replaced Deputy Ag Director Mike Everett with Phillip Bandy who was Invasive Species Council Coordinator. Risch has yet to name his Lt Governor, the post that Risch himself will seek in the November election. Idaho's 2006 winter wheat production is forecast at just over 61 million bushels, a four percent drop from last month's forecast and eight percent below last year's crop. National Ag Statistics Service said Friday that winter wheat yield is forecast at 86 bushels per acre, down four bushels from last month. 710 thousand Idaho acres are expected to be harvested, that's a 20 thousand acre decrease from last year. Winter wheat production nationwide is expected to be 16 percent below 2005. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott