MONTICELLO – Lawrence County farmers,planters, ranchers and concerned residents gathered Thursdaymorning seeking more information about a proposal to closeMonticello’s Farm Service Agency.

    Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a proposalto shutter 260 USDA offices across the country. Among those closingare 131 FSA offices. The USDA estimates the closures will save $150million a year out of the agency’s $145 billion budget.

    The Monticello USDA Service Center houses FSA offices and a NaturalResource Conservation Service office. Current USDA plans onlytarget the FSA office for closure.

    The state FSA Director Mike Sullivan was present at Thursday’spublic meeting to answer questions and provide information aboutthe proposal. Sullivan assured local residents he understands andsympathizes with their concerns.

    “It’s not a pleasant time for any of us,” Sullivan said.

    Congress mandated the necessity to make deep cuts, Sullivanemphasized Thursday. He explained the 2008 Farm Bill set thecriteria by which local offices were considered for closure orconsolidation.

    Any office with no permanent employees was automatically consideredfor closure and any office with two or fewer permanent employeeswithin 20 miles of another office was placed on the list ofproposed closures.

    Local residents attending the meeting were given the opportunity toprovide comment and ask questions about the closings.

    Robert Harris introduced himself as a tree farmer and said hewanted to see more information.

    “I have not heard anything about productivity, number of producers,number of dollars coming through the office,” Harris said. “I wouldlike to see those criteria included.”

    Harris said he believes in fiscal conservatism but wants to see afuller picture of how cuts will impact local residents.

    “I have no problem consolidating offices if they are not being usedby the county,” said Harris, pointing out the information he isinterested in has not been released.

    Jimmy Jones, of Silver Creek, made a similar point and said hewants to know how much money will be saved by closing theMonticello office.

    Sullivan said money saved is only available as a national figureand he did not have the information on individual offices.

    Jones said properly supporting and funding agriculture should be anational priority.

    “Look around this room,” he said. “It’s old people. We need to beeducating our young people to do this.”

    Sullivan assured the room he wants the state FSA to provide what italways has to Mississippi residents.

    “We want to make sure these changes do not affect the producers,ranchers and farmers of this county,” Sullivan said.

    Sullivan explained the timeline by which FSA closures maybegin.

    The public meeting process started Jan. 9 and will last 30 days.All materials from public meetings will be sent to the nationaloffice for a 90-day review process.

    After the review process, office closures may begin.

    The FSA office in Prentiss, in adjacent Jefferson Davis County,will administratively service producers in Lawrence County, buteach producer can choose what county they do business in.

    Sullivan said no employees have been or will be laid off orterminated early.

    “We’re not in a situation where someone will lose their job overthis,” Sullivan said. “We are under staffed in Mississippi as it isso these employees can be used.”

    Sullivan said the USDA cuts come as part of a national attempt totrim government.

    “All of us have been asked to do more with less while maintainingthe core services of the agency,” Sullivan said.