PLYMOUTH, Ind. — The Soil Survey Project office co-located with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field office in Plymouth is one of 11 Indiana offices listed for closure.

According to an announcement from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, the NRCS field office will remain open.

While no one at the Plymouth office could comment on the number of personnel affected by the closing, Elana Cass, a staff member of the USDA office in Indianapolis, said the three employees would be transferred to other offices but did not specify their locations.

The Plymouth office is among 259 potential closings throughout the United States.

In a press release, Jane Hardisty, NRCS state conservationist, said the Plymouth closing would not impact the agency’s services to area farmers and landowners. These include leading soil survey activities for USDA, coordination of National Cooperation Soil Survey activities and the extension of soil survey technology to global applications.

Soil surveys are used by farmers, Realtors, land use planners, engineers, developers, teachers and others who want current information about soil resources.

Farmers and landowners needing assistance from the Plymouth NRCS field office should contact District Conservationist Troy Manges at 574-936-2024 or the Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District office. More information about the survey program is available at www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/soils