“In Montana, we still like to do business face-to-face,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “Montana’s Farm Service Agency workers do a great job of providing answers and assistance to our ag producers, which helps them put food on our tables and money back into the rural economy.  It’s important the agency staff and the producers maintain a personal relationship.”

           The 2007 Reorganization Plan calls for closing eight county FSA offices in Montana, (Lewis and Clark, Meagher, Musselshell, Park, Ravalli, Sanders, Sweetgrass, and Treasure), and consolidating the staff into other nearby county offices.  The plan relies on improved phone, fax, and Internet-based communications to make up for the loss of personal attention.  It was put together by the FSA Central Committee, a 17-member task force made up of FSA employees and officials from state and county offices.

           “It is my understanding the goal of this plan is to reduce expenses and enhance efficiency within the FSA,” Rehberg said in a letter to Secretary Johanns. “To be sure, all government agencies, including the FSA, must find ways to maximize taxpayer dollars by reducing costs while at the same time maintaining a high level of service.  However, I am concerned that FSA’s plan to close eight offices in Montana will be inconvenient and costly to Montana agriculture producers.”

          In October 2005, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) dropped an FSA reorganization plan that called for eliminating 700 FSA offices nationwide, including six in Montana, when Rehberg, and other lawmakers, opposed the plan.

# # #

(Letter)

Secretary Mike Johanns
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C.  20250
December 28, 2006

Dear Secretary Johanns,

I am writing regarding the recent proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) to close eight offices in Montana.  I have serious concerns about this plan. 

It is my understanding the goal of this plan is to reduce expenses and enhance efficiency within FSA.  To be sure, all government agencies, including the FSA, must find ways to maximize taxpayer dollars by reducing costs while at the same time maintaining a high level of service.  However, I am concerned that FSA’s plan to close eight offices in Montana will be inconvenient and costly to Montana agriculture producers. 

Montana ag producers depend upon the face-to-face communication they have with their local FSA representative.  Local FSA offices allow producers better access to information, greater opportunities to discuss local issues, and the ability to easily sign any necessary papers or documents for various vital programs.  However, FSA’s proposed office closures would strip many producers of these advantages and force them to travel long distances to speak in person with an FSA representative, costing them both time and money. 

Additionally, many producers that utilize FSA’s services are located in areas where fast, reliable Internet access and other forms of communication is not always available.  Without this access, being in close proximity to an FSA office is even more important. 

Agriculture is the backbone of Montana’s economy and closing FSA offices would harm many Montana ag producers.  I strongly urge you to reconsider your plan to close FSA offices in Montana. 

Sincerely,

R

Denny Rehberg
Member of Congress

 cc. Randy Johnson, Montana State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency