The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (farm bill) was recently enacted requiring USDA’s Farm Service Agency to implement many of the bill’s commodity, livestock, conservation, disaster and credit programs.
All Kansas FSA farm program employees will attend farm bill training sessions Oct. 21-24, 2008. This training will ensure that entire Kansas FSA workforce receives the same training together to better serve Kansas farmers and ranchers.
All permanent farm program personnel will attend this training, but your local FSA county office will remain open Oct. 21-24 to be staffed with individual temporary employees and county committee members for the purpose of providing only essential customer services.
These employees will have limited knowledge of FSA farm programs and services, and limited resources. Issues that arise during this time will be promptly addressed by staff when they return to their offices Oct. 27.
Farm loan staff will be available at certain FSA county offices to address any farm loan issues.
“We appreciate the cooperation and understanding of all our customers,” said Bill Fuller, state FSA director. “Soon after this training, FSA county offices will conduct farm-bill informational meetings at various locations across the state to ensure Kansas farmers and ranchers are knowledgeable of new program policies and eligibility criteria.”
Bill Harmon is executive director of the Marion County FSA office.
