MARTINSVILLE, Ind. — Morgan County farmers voiced their concerns at a public meeting Thursday about possible closure of the county FSA office, an office praised for its efficiency.

Indiana’s 92 counties faced consolidations in the past that narrowed the state down to 78 offices, with closures now proposed in St. Joseph, Lake and Morgan counties. The move is part of USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack’s “Blueprint for Stronger Service” to streamline costs, announced on Jan. 9.

The proposal involves a closing of the FSA office in Martinsville, and moving records and personnel to the Monroe County office in Bloomington, which already services Monroe, Brown and Owen counties. Criteria, as spelled out in the 2008 farm bill, stipulates proposed closings have two or fewer employees and be within 20 miles of another county office.

Indiana FSA State Executive Director Julia Wickard addressed the group before the public comment period. “I appreciate your concerns, and I know a possible closure will impact your livelihood, where you do business and where you travel,” she said. “I will take your comments back to the Secretary of Agriculture, and the USDA will make a decision within 90 days of the January 9 proposal.”

Martinsville cattle producer Norman Voyles Jr. raised the question of logistics at the Bloomington office, where the FSA shares a busy parking lot with Ivy Tech Community College.

“It’s hard to get a parking spot, and took me 10 minutes just to get out of the parking lot,” he said, adding producers driving a school bus or farm vehicle would have increased difficulty. “Doubling the number of farmers using the office, it’s just not a good place.”

Most of the producers there voiced the same concern: If consolidation is necessary, why not bring the Monroe County office to Morgan County, where access is easier and the location less expensive?

“I understand the need to consolidate,” said beef producer Jim Lankford. “My main issue is the office chosen.”

Mike Buis has dealt with three county FSA offices, and said Morgan County is the “most efficient and most cooperative.” Dennis Stanton agreed, stating the criteria for closure did not seem sound.

“The two girls in our office are very efficient,” he said. “I’ve been in both counties, and it seems like (the Morgan County employees) are being penalized for being efficient.”

Producers also said county statistics should help determine the location of the office. Morgan County has 642 farms, topping Owen County at 570, Monroe at 481 and Brown at 399. There are 5,248 reported fields in Morgan County, with 6,488 in the other three counties combined. Direct and counter-cyclical payments numbered 901 in Morgan County, with only 860 in the other counties combined.

“Those figures reaffirm what we’ve been saying,” Lankford said. “We’re more active in Morgan County than in those counties individually and in some cases, combined. That’s why Bloomington is not the best location.”

Voyles summed up the group’s concerns: “The parking there is poor, there is a bigger workload here, the lease is less here. It just makes sense to bring the Monroe County office here.”

Wickard reminded the group the closure is only a proposal, and that their comments will be reviewed, as well as office locations and office lease agreements. “At the end of the day, it’s all about service to our producers,” she said.

Morgan County producers can provide written comments by emailing Julia.Wickard@in.usda.gov or Nancy.Best@in.usda.gov or sending them via USPS to: Indiana Farm Service Agency, 5981 Lakeside Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46278, no later than Feb. 12.