USDA Secretary Instructs FSA to Proceed with Office Consolidation Plan

Consolidations Are Part of USDA’s Blueprint for Stronger Service

Steve Maurer, Ohio State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency (FSA), announced that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas A. Vilsack has approved the closure of five FSA county offices in Ohio, 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.

“FSA places the utmost priority on ensuring that our services to producers remain strong as this consolidation process begins,” said FSA Administrator Bruce Nelson. 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. In addition, all employees in a closing office will be provided an opportunity to continue their work with FSA.

As a federal agency, FSA has been affected by widespread budget reductions made by Congress. Since 2011, the Agency has lost 1,230 permanent employees through voluntary early separation and normal retirement. In addition, FSA has been forced to reduce discretionary administrative expenses by more than 30 percent in the last fiscal year alone.

The county offices confirmed for closure in Ohio are: Carroll, Clark, Meigs, Montgomery and Perry counties.

For a complete list of FSA county offices affected by this decision, go to http://www.fsa.usda.gov/officeconsolidations.