Etheridge Fights to Save N.C. Farm Service Agency Offices

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, has taken up the fight to prevent one quarter of the nation's Farm Service Agency offices from being closed. Etheridge has sent a letter cosigned by a bipartisan group of 52 representatives to Congressional appropriators urging them to stop a plan to close 665 FSA offices.

"North Carolina's farmers count on the Farm Service Agency to provide them with the assistance they need to ensure that all Americans can count on a safe and steady food supply. After a summer with unprecedented natural disasters Congress must not allow the USDA to close federal offices that provide farmers help in dire times like these. Any plan to close local offices without first examining the consequences is irresponsible," said Etheridge.

The USDA is currently in the latter stages of a program known as "FSA Tomorrow," which would close as many as 713 of the country's 2353 offices. North Carolina has 77 FSA offices. The letter asks the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee to include language in the Agriculture Appropriations Act that will prevent any funds from being used to close or relocate a county or local FSA office unless the Secretary of Agriculture has first demonstrated to the Congress the cost effectiveness and enhancement of program delivery will not be adversely affected. The Senate has already adopted such language.

Etheridge is also cosponsoring bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) that would prevent any FSA office from being closed until the current Farm Bill expires on September 30, 2007.

"As a part-time farmer, I have walked into a Farm Service Agency office and know how important it is to have easy access to these offices. North Carolina agriculture relies on FSA services more than most other states because of the highly diversified nature of our farm products. Although I am willing to consider proposals to strengthen the federal government and reduce spending, I cannot support efforts such as this that would unfairly impact North Carolina's farm families," concluded Etheridge.

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