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Vilsack says farmers won’t be affected by closures
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says he expects less opposition from farmers and lawmakers about the proposed cuts of more than 250 USDA offices. In the past, the suggestion of closing Farm Service Agency and other offices was pushed back, but once they see the numbers, Vilsack told reporters, they’ll know it had to be done – adding, that over the past year and more – the push has been to get the nation’s fiscal house in order and cuts had to be made.
Vilsack assured farmers, though, that they will still get the services they need. “The work is being transferred. It’s not that they’re not going to get service. They may have to drive five or 10 extra miles from where they once drove. They’re still going to see the same people behind the counter.”
But, if budgets get even tighter in the future and more USDA reductions are needed, Vilsack said, “by all means, they’ll happen.”
The National Farmers Union says it’s concerned about the cuts. NFU’s vice president of government relations, Chandler Ghoule, said, “Agriculture cannot be continually asked to do more than its fair share to resolve our nation’s deficit problems”, adding, leaders need to look elsewhere for solutions.
Tags: farm service agency, USDA
It sure looks like Vilsack is talking out of both sides of his mouth. He’s closing 250 offices, but farmers “will still see the same people behind the counter”. Farmers understand that cuts need to be made; are foreign countries taking cuts in their foreign aid?