Newhouse: Administration Needs To Fill FSA Positions

The 2021 growing season has been challenging for producers in a number of ways, from the pandemic, to trade disruptions, to record heat, this year has been one for the record books in many ways. But, Dan Newhouse said some of the frustration farmers are facing right now does not need to happen. The Chair of the Western Caucus said ten months into the Biden Administration, and a host of vital Farm Service Agency staff positions remain vacant.

“There again, we have a tremendous amount of need on the part of our producers and nobody in these positions to make decisions let alone answer questions for our producers to get the assistance that they need.  And we’re urging the agency to please, please fill these positions.  Like I said, we’re almost a year in and still a lot of offices are empty.”

Newhouse pointed out that farmers depend on the ability to get help and direction when they need it, especially during a difficult year, and that can’t be done right now until at the very least state Executive Director positions are filled.

“Government can move frustratingly slow, and I believe it’s part of my job to push the bureaucracy, to get them to be responsive to the people they serve, and there’s no excuse for dragging their feet.”

Currently, all three Northwest states have acting FSA state Executive Directors. In fact, nationwide, only six states, Michigan, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, New Jersey and New Mexico have appointed FSA state Executive Directors.

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