Saturday Is The Deadline For Public Comment On Molino FSA Office Closure

February 11, 2012

Today is the deadline for the public to comment on the proposed closure of the Molino Farm Services Agency office.

The Molino FSA Office administers farm commodities, crop insurance, credit, environmental conservation and emergency assistance for farmers and ranchers in Escambia County. On January 9, the USDA announced the proposed closure of the office, forcing the farmers to drive to Milton or Brewton for FSA services.

Tim Manning, FSA state executive director, said that offices with two or less employees and offices that were located within 20 miles of another office were targeted  for closure. Manning (pictured left) said that on December 23, the day chosen as a “snapshot” of the Molino office, it met both criteria for closure.

But multiple farmers and producers were quick to point out that it is more than 20 miles to drive from Molino, or areas like Walnut Hill or Nokomis, to the FSA office in Milton because of limited routes across the Escambia River. And the criteria for two or fewer employees, many producers said, was met only because a third employee in the office had recently retired.

The major savings from closing the Molino Farm Service Agency will be about $16,000 per year in rent to the Escambia County Farm Bureau for office space along with telephone service. All other utilities are included in the monthly rent.

The Farm Service Agency will continue to accept written comments from the public concerning the Molino office closure through today . Comments can be emailed to mark.cotrell@fl.usda.gov or submitted by mail. To download a comment form, click here.

To read about a recently public meeting on the closure, click here.

Comments

3 Responses to “Saturday Is The Deadline For Public Comment On Molino FSA Office Closure”

  1. Farmers Feed Alabama on February 11th, 2012 2:07 pm

    James Broel, why do you say its a waste?

  2. Jane on February 11th, 2012 1:08 pm

    Save the FSA office in Molino!!

  3. James Broel on February 11th, 2012 10:20 am

    Save money and waste…shut it down!!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive