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State Representative Rod Hamilton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5373
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
YOU CAN HELP KEEP FARM SERVICE AGENCY OFFICES OPEN
To the Editor:
Lost amidst the tragic hurricanes and the nomination of a new Supreme Court Chief Justice was news that the USDA plans to close hundreds of Farm Service Agency offices around the nation. The FSA has an office in virtually every county in the nation, but the USDA apparently feels some need to be closed in order to modernize for the future and save money.
What this announcement tells me is that farmers are once again going to get the shaft. Remember, this news is on the heels of the University of Minnesota closing extension offices in rural Minnesota in order to become more “efficient.” I still have not been able to figure out how eliminating face-to-face contact between farmers and extension agents provides “efficiency,” but that is a conversation for another day.
In Minnesota, the USDA is looking at closing 22 of the 74 offices currently in operation. A total of 37 offices will be analyzed before that list is reduced to 22.
Agriculture is the backbone of rural Minnesota. Eliminating or reducing services from FSA personnel is only going to hurt farmers, which will in turn harm the smaller communities where they are doing business.
The public can do something about this. Contact Congressman Gutknecht and Senators Norm Coleman and Mark Dayton and let them know how you feel. And rest assured I will be doing my part in the State Legislature to find out what can be done to keep our FSA offices open.
Sincerely,
State Representative Rod Hamilton
Mountain Lake
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