Two federal lawmakers from Kansas are working “across the aisle” to ensure USDA field office numbers don’t decrease.
Republican Derek Schmidt of the Second District and Democrat Sharice Davids of the Third recently introduced a bill in the US House called the USDA Field Office Stability Act. The goal is to prevent the closure of USDA county offices and service centers, specifically those operated by USDA Rural Development, the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, while making sure they are staffed to meet the areas they serve. Schmidt says the offices offer vital help when it comes to conservation programs, disaster assistance, farm loans and other matters of note.
The bill does offer limited exceptions for offices within 20 minutes of other USDA offices or “routine relocations” in the same county.
The bill has the support of the Kansas Farmers Union, which is calling on the USDA “to increase funding, hiring, training, and pay for its staff so they can continue to provide quality service to the agriculture community.”
Schmidt will have his monthly appearance on KVOE’s Morning Show this upcoming Friday at 8:20 am.
