USDA Proposes Closures

The United States Department of Agriculture announces the closure of nearly 260 offices nationwide.

In our area the Village of Somerset Farm Service Agency will close and in Coshocton the Agriculture Research Service make the proposed closure list.

It’s part of what Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack calls "Blueprint for Stronger Service." Bill Huston from the Muskingum-Morgan Farm Service Agency said when it comes to the FSA, offices that were within 20 miles of another office or have two or fewer employees were targeted.

"I know that’s the vision of the USDA is maybe you don’t need to visit the office as often. Maybe you can do online program applications," said Executive Director Bill Huston. "Unfortunately, less than 3 percent of our farmers have access to high speed internet and it’s going to be years before we’re capable of that, even having the technology."

Huston said it’s also difficult due to Southeast Ohio’s rural nature for farmer’s to get to offices and the programs being passed are more complicated, meaning offices are seeing the need to answer in depth questions in person. Huston also said it’s a huge loss to lose a research facility like the one in Coshocton.

"The research that they do there on how water moves through the soil layers, what kind of nutrients do they take with it, that’s incredibly valuable research, to me as a farmer and as a person in society that cares about our water quality and soil erosion, " said Huston. "I’m really sorry to see that office close."

During discussions with offices Monday, Huston said that farmer’s using the Perry County Office will most likely be moved to Fairfield County, unless they find themselves doing more business in a surrounding county, like Muskingum or Licking. Secretary Vilsack said it’s his departments goal to save $150(m) a year in the agency’s $145(b) budget.