As part of an elbow grease to cut expense and streamline operation , the USDA will shutter more than 250 offices , Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Jan. 9 , 2012 .
In his remarks at the 93rd yearly meeting of the American Farm Bureau Federation , Vilsack introduced the department ’s Blueprint for Stronger Service , bid it a product of the White House ’s console - wide initiative to cut spending and eliminate taxpayer waste .
“ The USDA , like families and businesses across the country , can not continue to manoeuver like we did 50 years ago , ” he explain . “ We must innovate , modernize and be good custodian of the taxpayers ’ dollar sign . We must progress on the disk accomplishments of farm communities in 2011 with a strong , more effective Agriculture in 2012 and beyond . ”
The USDA ’s programme calls for the closure of 259 domestic offices , facility and labs , as well as seven extraneous offices . Farm Service Agency offices will account for 131 of the closing , while 43 Rural Development place will be shutter , as well . The repose of the closures will bear upon farming research stations ; Natural Resource Conservation role ; Food , Nutrition and Consumer Service billet ; and other agency .
Many of the office targeted for cloture are no longer staffed or have a very small staff ( one or two people ) ; several are also site within 20 miles of other USDA offices . The section also ascribe many of the closures to technology improvements , modern USDA inspection and repair centre and increased availability of broadband service — all cistron that decrease the demand for brick - and - howitzer facilities .
Other changes outlined in the Blueprint proposal include :
Chandler Goule , vice president of government relation for the National Farmers Union , call the cuts “ disappointing , ” citing several recent austerity measures that the agricultural biotic community has bear the brunt of .
Vilsack and the USDA “ have made great strides toward streamlining and economize the section ’s cognitive process , ” he note in a press outlet sent out after Vilsack ’s declaration . “ Since 2010 , Congress has tailor USDA ’s discretionary spending levels by about 12 percent , and USDA has done its good to prevent those reducing from affecting the quality of military service that farmers and ranchers have fall to expect . With the recent spending reduction , it was not possible to avoid awful cuts that will harm farmers and rancher across the land . ”
Despite the USDA ’s efforts to minimize inconvenience to farmers , the closures will still be detrimental to large- and small - scale leaf sodbuster and rural community , Goule says . In rural region , he explain , USDA office are as much social hubs as they are economic lifter .
“ USDA installation , in particular FSA and NRCS offices , are where farmers do a bunch of paperwork . Nutrient - management plants , farm - programme eligibility form and other requirements are all filed with these power , ” he sound out . “ They also are a place to take more about USDA ’s opportunities for farmers . Just like any other institution , like a school , church service or courthouse , a USDA office also offers a sentience of biotic community in rural areas . ”
While any farmer affected by a local office closure will see “ substantial inconvenience , ” Goule points out that this may pose a special challenge tobeginning farmers , who sometimes need to make several trips to their FSA power as they garner the appropriate farm written document and teach how to correctly complete and submit federal forms .
Goule know that streamlined processes and USDA agencies ’ adoption of paperless record keeping and e - theme song technology will assist make life promiscuous for farmers .
“ USDA ’s been long overdue for improved technology , so any campaign to modernize data system of rules are certainly welcome . flowing conformation forms are helpful , too , so it ’s wanton to see how the motivation for some brick - and - mortar readiness is reduced , ” he concedes . “ However , it is unfortunate to see streamline contribute toward countermine ties in rural residential district . ”
Goule say that while he hope a more streamlined USDA will have more time and money at its garbage disposal to serve up farmers and rural communities , he worry that farmers will instead be face with a vicious circle .
“ The saying ‘ You get what you pay up for , ’ comes to mind . As we pass less and less on USDA service offices , we should expect fewer services . There are novel cost - savings criterion — info - technology advances , for example — but lose weight investment now only sets up more cuts in the future . ”
