By ANN HINCH
Assistant Editor

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — Reaction is mixed as to the wisdom of consolidating the Tipton and Hamilton counties’ Farm Service Agency (FSA) separate offices into one joint location, as evidenced at a hearing last week in Noblesville.

The Aug. 1 meeting was the final of 10 held around the state during the month of July, within a 30-day window set by FSA in Washington, D.C., to gauge farmers’ thoughts on the proposed closing of 10 county offices. A preliminary proposal submitted by Indiana FSA was approved on July 2 by Steven Connelly, deputy administrator for field operations with federal FSA.

“It’s been my experience that costs never really disappear – they just get shifted,” said Ed Melshen, a semi-retired farmer of 35 years and one of Hamilton County’s three FSA committee members, of the reasoning that closing these offices and consolidating personnel will save the agency money.

He cited the extra fuel and long-distance calls Hamilton County farmers may incur in having to deal with Tipton instead of Noblesville, and estimated their personal costs could accumulate to nearly half of what FSA figures will be saved by closing the Noblesville office.

Steve Brown, state FSA executive officer, explained the proposed nationwide closings are a directive from federal FSA. “We’re fighting for funds,” he said. “We’re short-staffed by 62 people in the state of Indiana.”

This is no surprise, explained Indiana FSA District Director Ron Myers, when one considers there are 80 offices and many could use one more employee. “In our small counties … when we have two or three employees and we have somebody sick or someone on vacation, we can’t serve our producers,” he said.

Brown said in offices with only two or three employees, there are 20-30 days during the year with only one present, between sick days and vacation time. This can create a problem in service and logistics – some FSA checks require two employee signatures, not just one.

By closing some offices and consolidating those employees into an adjacent county’s office, thereby increasing its staff, Myers said, “We know when we drive to that office, there will be somebody to wait on us.”

Short-staffing has been cited by Brown and Indiana FSA Executive Director Kenny Culp as a major consideration in deciding where to suggest closings – and Brown was adamant they are just suggestions so far, that nothing final will be submitted to federal FSA until the state committee makes those decisions, probably in the next 45 days.

“If it was (a done deal), we wouldn’t be here,” he said, adding the committee will consider comments to determine any changes in the plan and that no closings would take place before early 2008. He also said the final plan would be posted online through www.fsa.usda.gov

He urged farmers to contact Congressional representatives, since this concerns federal funding. The House’s proposed farm bill, for example, contains a provision that, if passed by Congress, would delay all FSA office closures by one year (see related article).
Melshen said he contacted Rep. Dan Burton’s (R-Ind.) office and was told to appeal to the FSA state committee – the opposite of what he was initially advised. He added just because Noblesville is rapidly developing doesn’t mean it has fewer farmers – though they may have smaller plots, thanks to developers subdividing the land.

Hamilton County farmer Ron Coverdale agreed. “With all of our growth in this area, you may have an 80-acre farm this year, and you may have three people (on it) the next year,” he said, explaining how decreasing farmland can still create paperwork for the county FSA.

For the past month, Melshen said Hamilton and Tipton counties have been under one FSA director, or shared management. Hamilton County farmer Jerry Rulon is in favor of consolidation because he would rather have one office for two counties, than two. “To me, shared management means anytime you want to see the manager, he’s in the other county,” he said.

Fellow Hamilton County farmer Terry Boone is also in favor. She would transfer to the Madison County FSA office instead, as would some neighbors, since it is closer. (FSA instituted a “convenience rule” this year that allows farmers to switch home offices if it is more convenient for travel.)

Brown said there are 817 producers who receive payments in Tipton County, compared to 699 in Hamilton. And while office rent is higher in Tipton, that FSA office is large enough for extra employees and would not require extra construction.