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Democrats demand Farm Service hearing Thursday, Sep 29, 2005 By Elizabeth Piet Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- Two House Democrats have asked for a congressional hearing to examine a Department of Agriculture plan to reorganize the Farm Service Agency. Department officials say they have been attempting to meet with lawmakers to explain the strategy and they are more than willing to provide facts without a hearing. Reps. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., and Marion Berry, D-Ark., wrote a letter on Tuesday complaining members of Congress have little information about the department's plans to potentially close one third of Farm Service Agency offices. "From what little information we have received, this plan appears to be an attempt to downsize FSA and diminish a critical agricultural link between Washington and rural America," the lawmakers said in the letter, which was sent to Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., House Agriculture Committee chairman. The Farm Service Agency provides credit to new or disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, helps farmers recover from disasters and provides payments to stabilize farm incomes. Last week, Farm Service Agency state executive directors and national leaders met to discuss the strategy called "FSA Tomorrow." Offices were rated by factors such as their locations and workloads. Some offices are no longer vital to the farming community, such as those in areas once rural but now more urban, said Floyd Gaibler, the Department of Agriculture's deputy under secretary for farm and foreign agricultural services. Some offices could be closed or merged with larger ones to create efficiencies, he said. Savings could be devoted to hiring more specialists and upgrading computer equipment, he said. "We are trying to achieve some efficiencies here," Gaibler said. "We want better-equipped, better-staffed offices for our producers." State directors were asked to tour their states and recommend changes by Nov. 15. The department hopes to implement plans by Sept. 30, 2006. Dotson Collins, executive director of the program in Arkansas, said he plans to brief Arkansas federal lawmakers. Collins was given a guideline to close or consolidate 22 of the state's 62 Farm Service Agency offices, which are located in most counties. "Whatever savings is achieved is rolled back into the agency," Collins said. "We can furnish better service to the farmers." Gaibler said state directors have the option to recommend fewer office closures. The Senate last week passed an amendment that would bar the Agriculture Department from carrying out its plan until it could ensure the closures would be cost-effective and would not harm services for farmers. Staff from the House Agricultural Committee said there are no plans for a hearing on the Farm Service Agency at this time. -30- |
