09/30/05 FSA office closures, part two

We'll probably be able to tell you within the next two weeks which offices the Farm Service Agency proposes to close. Twelve of Idaho's 35 offices are targeted. State director Wayne Hammon maintains three offices at Orofino, Salmon and Payette with one employee each. The Payette office appears certain for closure. HAMMON "The line gets long real fast. If that person is sick for that day or has to come to Boise for a meeting or go out into the field to inspect a grain bin that office gets close and so the service just is not being provided at the level we want. By driving that extra ten to 15 miles to Weiser Payette County producers know that when they get to the office there's going to be somebody there to handle their work." Salmon is a different story because it's not a ten to 15 minute drive to the nearest office. HAMMON "What I'm hoping to do is by moving people around we may be able to free up a second employee that can move to Salmon and make that a two person office because 180 miles is a big different than ten. Coming from Salmon to Rexburg is difficult especially in the winter." There are also several two person offices considered for closure but Hammon stresses that customer convenience and nearly 180 full time and part time employees are the priorities in their consolidation decisions. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott