The National Farmers Union and USDA will work together to improve customer service at Farm Service Agency county offices, according to a Memorandum of Understanding signed Monday.
“Demand for FSA program assistance remains high and continues to grow, making it more difficult for existing staff to manage the increasing workload and related customer service needs of American agriculture,” says the MOU, signed by FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux and NFU President Rob Larew.
“Our hope is that the information gathered through this MOU can be used to guide better investment in the capacity of our local offices,” Ducheneaux said in a news release. “Leveraging this partnership and the outcomes derived from NFU’s access to local input will greatly benefit FSA employees and the farmers and ranchers we serve — it’s a win-win."
“This MOU solidifies our commitment to work closely with USDA to gather input from those who depend on FSA’s farm and loan programs to help improve the systems that support them,” Larew said in the release. NFU has formally organized divisions in 33 states.
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FSA has gradually been increasing staffing levels at county offices in the past few years, but there are still challenges in providing adequate service.
Before an audience of NFU members who came to Washington, D.C., for their September fly-in, Ducheneaux said that in speaking with producers during his time as administrator, “Not once have they said, ‘You know what? Close my county office, put fewer people in my county office.’ It's always, ‘I love my county office. Get them the tools they need, get them the resources they need so that they can do a better job for all of us.’”
“NFU intends to dedicate staff time to this effort, and to coordinate activities with its state Farmers Union divisions,” the MOU says. “The organization will facilitate community convenings and listening sessions with up to three local communities.”
Also in the MOU, USDA said it would use feedback from the partnership “to inform ongoing investments in improved customer service.”
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