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Boyda Concerned About Farm Office Closures, Takes Action
04/04/07WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) announced today that she is cosponsoring H.R. 1649, a bill to prohibit the closure or relocation of any local Farm Service Office until one year after the enactment of the 2007 Farm Bill.
The Farm Service Agency has announced plans to close down 11 offices in Kansas, which would drastically limit the accessibility of FSA services to Kansas farmers and ranchers.
Boyda said, “As the Agriculture Committee writes the 2007 Farm Bill, we need to know that local Farm Service Offices will stand ready to assist farmers with any and all proposed programs. The premature closure of FSA offices would tie lawmakers’ hands and limit our ability to serve Kansas farmers and ranchers.”
Boyda serves on the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, which this year will write a new omnibus Farm Bill to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs beyond fiscal year 2007.
Boyda added, “Rather than closing down local FSA offices, Congress should look at ways to improve their services. I am very concerned by reports that some offices’ computers and technology are unacceptably out of date, but when I asked USDA representatives about these reports at a recent committee hearing, their answers were less than satisfying. We cannot brush such problems under a rug; we must address them, and sooner rather than later.”
The Farm Service Agency has announced plans to close down 11 offices in Kansas, which would drastically limit the accessibility of FSA services to Kansas farmers and ranchers.
Boyda said, “As the Agriculture Committee writes the 2007 Farm Bill, we need to know that local Farm Service Offices will stand ready to assist farmers with any and all proposed programs. The premature closure of FSA offices would tie lawmakers’ hands and limit our ability to serve Kansas farmers and ranchers.”
Boyda serves on the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, which this year will write a new omnibus Farm Bill to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs beyond fiscal year 2007.
Boyda added, “Rather than closing down local FSA offices, Congress should look at ways to improve their services. I am very concerned by reports that some offices’ computers and technology are unacceptably out of date, but when I asked USDA representatives about these reports at a recent committee hearing, their answers were less than satisfying. We cannot brush such problems under a rug; we must address them, and sooner rather than later.”