Posted: 07.15.2011
Brad Pfaff was recruiting at Wisconsin Farm Technology Days this week. Recruiting farmers - not new employees.
Brad Pfaff, Wisconsin State Executive Director for USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA), is hoping that more farmers step up to be involved in county committees for their local FSA office. That volunteerism is critical at a time when FSA is under a hiring freeze and dealing with 7 office vacancies around the state. In an interview with Pam Jahnke, Pfaff said there are 56 FSA offices across the state, and that right now, only 49 have county executive directors. That means that some counties, like Florence and Forest, are under joint or shared management. "We are looking at all the positions we have," Pfaff tells the WI Farm Report, "Congress will decide what our footprint will be in the future through the next farm bill." For now, though, the hiring freeze stays.
Former FSA State Director, Ben Brancel, made efforts to evaluate what county FSA locations could be merged or closed altogether under his term in office. He submitted his suggestions at that time - but not further action was allowed.
Pfaff reminded all farmers statewide that the best way to make sure county offices are running efficiently and staying connected with local growers is by being involved in the business of the county committee. Producers have until August 1, 2011, to nominate eligible candidates to serve on local FSA county committees, or serve themselves. "County committees are important to Wisconsin because they assist local farmers and ranchers," said Pfaff. "I especially encourage beginning farmers to get involved by nominating eligible candidates to serve on county committees."
To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area in which the person is a candidate.
Producers may also nominate themselves, and organizations representing minority and women may also nominate candidates. To become a nominee, eligible individuals must sign form FSA-669A. The form and other valuable information about FSA county committee elections are available online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=newsroom&subject=landing&topic=cce. Nomination forms for the 2009 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on August 1, 2011.
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