LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-(Farm Bureau)--The Arkansas Farm Bureau began a series of 10 public meetings on Monday to discuss the planned closing of 16 USDA facilities in Arkansas.
Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach expressed caution regarding the office closings.
"Those of us in agriculture are willing to take our share of cuts -- we all agree we have got to get the federal deficit under control -- but some of these planned cuts seem to be arbitrary and driven by something other than common sense," said Veach, a cotton, soybean and rice farmer from Mississippi County's Manila. "We view these closings with some degree of caution.
"These closings will put a hardship on some farmers, greatly increasing the amount of time it can take to get to the closest USDA/FSA office, and time is a valuable commodity for everyone.
"First and foremost, we want to ensure that the farmers and ranchers of this state will have the ability to participate in USDA programs. If these closings limit the ability of farmers and ranchers to take part in USDA programs, then that is a clear sign the cuts are too deep."
USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack announced plans earlier this month to close 259 offices nationwide -- including a total of 16 facilities in Arkansas, among the most in the nation.
The Natural Resource Conservation Service office in Pulaski County has been targeted for closure, as well as 10 Farm Service Agency offices in Benton, Bradley, Fulton, Garland, Faulkner Izard, Johnson, Lafayette, Logan, Pulaski counties. USDA also plans to close five Rural Development offices in Faulkner, Hot Spring, Izard, Sevier and White counties.
Veach said Vilsack broke the news about the USDA office closings to those in attendance at the American Farm Bureau convention last week, and the secretary vowed to ensure ongoing access to USDA programs.
"Sec. Vilsack said he is committed to making sure all USDA programs are open to farmers and ranchers," Veach said. "He said the programs will continue to be streamlined, while online signup and verification capacity will be enhanced. While I certainly support that effort, it is important need to realize that there are large parts of our state where reliable broadband internet service is unavailable.
"As more and more of our business moves into an online environment, we must work to provide adequate access for those in rural parts of our state and nation."
Public hearings have been set for counties where FSA offices are to be closed. Farm Bureau held meetings in Pulaski and Garland counties on Monday. The remaining meetings are set for:
* Bradley County: Thursday, 10:30 A.M. at the Municipal Court Building in Warren
* Lafayette County: Monday, 10:30 A.M. at the Lafayette County Agriplex in Lewisville
* Johnson County: Feb. 1, 9:30 A.M. at the First Security Bank in Clarksville
* Logan County: Feb. 1, 2:00 P.M. at the First National Bank Community Center in Paris
* Faulkner County: Feb. 2, 10:30 A.M. at the Natural Resource Center in Conway
* Fulton County: Feb. 3, 10:30 A.M. at the Fulton County Courthouse in Salem
* Izard County: Feb. 3, 2:30 P.M. at the Izard County Courthouse in Melbourne
* Benton County: Feb. 6, 10:30 A.M. at the Benton County Extension office in Bentonville
Veach noted Farm Bureau's current policy regarding farmer access to USDA programs reads: "We support the efficient delivery of farm programs and retention of county committee structures with all counties represented, even if the number of county FSA, NRCS and Rural Economic and Community Development offices is reduced. Whenever county offices are combined, equal board member representation should be ensured."
"It is clear from our policy position that Farm Bureau members realize the delivery of service is the most important role of the USDA offices," Veach said. "We need to ensure access to services is not restricted by these planned office closings."
