6-8 IAN FSA Closures

 Dick  Rush, Idaho State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency just announced that USDA Secretary Thomas A. Vilsack has approved the closure of four FSA county offices in Idaho, a process that will begin immediately.  After the required notifications have been provided to producers, FSA employees and office landlords, closure dates will be established and made publicly available. The agency will provide farmers and ranchers affected by closures an opportunity to choose the most convenient neighboring county office with which to conduct their future business with the agency. I had a conversation with Dick: “Making the announcement that you are going to reduce the number of FSA  county offices must fill you with a certain sense of sadness. It sure doesn’t make me feel very good but it was very interesting when we held public hearings in every one of these locations. We had many farmers that came out and they didn’t complain much about having to travel farther, what they worried about were the relationships they had with our employees. They said, “This employee has been helping me for years, they know my operation and now I’m worried were going to lose that personal touch.” I guess I worry about that too as we consolidate and cut down on the number of employees but that is the kind of world we are living in right now. FSA has been affected by widespread budget reductions made by Congress.  But, let’s increase funding to entitlement programs.