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Chinn: ERS, NIFA move to Missouri will benefit state’s farmers
The Downtown Kansas City relocation of USDA’s Economic Research
Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will benefit
the state’s farmers, according to Chris Chinn, director of the Missouri Department
of Agriculture.
“These researchers, these people who are doing that important work, actually
have the opportunity to reach out and get to know a farmer and ask them ‘what
challenges do you see on a daily basis for your operation,’” Chinn told
Brownfield Ag News Thursday, “‘what to you need a solution for, what can we do
to help you,’ and so that’s where we think it’s going to be a huge benefit.”
A lease was signed to house the two agencies near Kansas City’s intersection of
I-70 and I-35. Chinn says the agencies’ location reinforces the state’s role as
an agriculture hub.
“It also just kind of sends out a very strong message that Missouri is here and
we’re open for business and we’re looking for new opportunities all of the time
to serve agriculture and the people that we work for,” said Chinn.
Employees who made the initial move a month ago have been in another USDA building
in Kansas City where they’ll remain until the downtown office is ready.
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