Approximately 90 farmers and ranchers filled the Jerauld County Four-H Building to leave comments for Farm Service Agency officials on the proposed closing of the FSA office in Wessington Springs. Jerry Caffee says the affects of closing the office could affect more than just producers….
Craig Schaunaman, State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency says producers would have services moved to Woonsocket…
[audio:http://prprt.itmwpb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/688/2012/01/fsaclose2.mp3|titles=fsaclose2]Wade Christensen is a farmer southwest of Wessington Springs near Buffalo
County and says that’s a long way to go….
Rod Huisman says he’s not sure if the Sanborn County office can facilitate the extra work…
[audio:http://prprt.itmwpb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/688/2012/01/fsaclose4.mp3|titles=fsaclose4]Schaunaman says the saving in the consolidation proposal lie in staff reductions as 90-percent of an FSA office’s budget is used for personnel Over half of the state’s FSA staff are eligible for early retirements or buy-outs and not filling those positions is a large part of the overall staff reduction. The Jerauld County and three other offices are apart of 131 offices nationwide on a list to be closed. U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack has the discretion to keep any of the offices open if he feels the need is there. Schaunaman will take public comment in Jackson, Harding and Campbell Counties through the week.