WASHINGTON  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today expressed her approval of the news that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Administration is scrapping their plans to close over 30 Missouri FSA offices, an idea Emerson had opposed.

 

“These offices serve as the first and only personal point of contact between our producers and the programs they rely upon, especially in times of drought and disaster.  I’m glad the proposal is being scrapped and the level of service to our farmers is being preserved,” Emerson said. “Fewer offices would have meant added hardship for producers, longer drives and lengthier waits.  In the end, closing FSA offices might look good on a spreadsheet in Washington, but it certainly
doesn’t make any sense from our producers’ perspective in Southern Missouri.”

 

Nationwide, the plan would have resulted in the closure of 713 of 2,351 FSA offices.  It was reportedly scrapped due to congressional opposition to the plan and a Senate amendment to delay the closures, which was sponsored by Missouri’s U.S. Senator Jim Talent.