FSA state director tells Farm Bureau hours will be reduced; Poweshiek supervisors plan letter of concern

Board members reported that the Farm Service Agency state director told a Farm Bureau information meeting that Poweshiek County's FSA office will reduce hours due to a federal hiring freeze and federal budget shortfalls. The state director explained that retirements and staff relocations left the local office without personnel and that the federal hiring freeze and lack of budget authority prevent hiring. As a result, Poweshiek County files will be transferred to one of four surrounding county FSA offices and Poweshiek residents may use those offices or schedule an appointment on Wednesdays at the Poweshiek County office; the Poweshiek County FSA office will be appointment-only on Wednesdays and will not accept walk-ins. The minutes record that the office cannot close completely without congressional consent.

The Board of Supervisors said it intends to write a letter to Farm Service Agency representatives and to the county's U.S. Senate and Congressional delegation expressing concern about how the change will affect local farmland owners. Mona Bond called into the meeting to inquire about the information obtained at the Farm Bureau meeting. The minutes record the informational nature of the Farm Bureau session and that no county business was conducted at that meeting.