Farm Services Agency Wants Move To Central Location In Jay

March 30, 2013

Back in November, the USDA Farm Service Agency in Molino was closed, meaning a 50 to 55 mile trip for some Escambia County producers to the next nearest FSA office in Milton.

Now, the FSA wants to move the Milton FSA office to Jay to better serve agricultural producers in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

“With the majority of the farming in both Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties located in the northern portion of the counties, moving the FSA Office to Jay will reduce the travel time for the producers in both counties by approximately 25 miles as Jay is centrally located between the Escambia and the Santa Rosa farming community,” Florida FSA State Executive Director Tim Manning said.

Friday, Manning and a group of producers from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties met with Congressman Jeff Miller to express their desire to move the FSA office to Jay.

Manning said the search is already on for space to renovate or a place to build new space for an FSA office in Jay. Anyone interested in bidding on the space should contact Travis Kelley, Santa Rosa County executive director at (850) 623-5441 or (800) 243-9912 and choose option 5.

Pictured top:  Congressman Jeff Miller (right) listens to concerned agricultural producers Friday. Pictured below: A group of producers met to discuss moving the Santa Rosa FSA Office, which also serves Escambia County, to Jay. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

5 Responses to “Farm Services Agency Wants Move To Central Location In Jay”

  1. David Huie Green on March 31st, 2013 3:48 pm

    If I read this correctly, two moves are not involved, just two closures and a move.

    The closure in Molino left those wishing to use the services having to go to Milton.
    No office was moved.
    People just had to go elsewhere for services.

    The closure and move to Jay would be a real move but closer to many of those using the services offered.

    David for online services
    whenever possible

  2. Jane on March 31st, 2013 8:24 am

    So I guess it is the Federal mismanagement of funds since it costs more money to move something twice than it takes to move something once. No wonder America has such a huge debt!

  3. Dedra Singleton on March 30th, 2013 9:11 am

    Thank you William for clarifying the fact that our BOCC had nothing to do with the decision to consolidate the Escambia and Santa Rosa County FSA offices. Although we all hated to see the Molino office close, it was done based on a provision that wad written in the 2008 Farm Bill and carried out in 2012. It has also been the plan all along to move the office to Jay, not something that has just been realized. The meeting yesterday was beneficial in the fact that it showed the area farmers that progress is being made.

  4. William on March 30th, 2013 8:24 am

    >>…it is poor management from the Escambia County Commissioners

    The Escambia County Commission has nothing to do with deciding the location of a federal office. The BOCC did pass a resolution asking the federal government to leave the office in Molino.

  5. Jane on March 30th, 2013 6:24 am

    They should have left it where it was. It has taken them this long to realize they made a mistake in moving it? And we wonder why our taxes keep going up…it is poor management from the Escambia County Commissioners, among other things.