From 2010 to 2017, Minnesota's NRCS staff has been reduced from 419 to 243 full-time employees
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN) sent a letter to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) expressing concerns over staff vacancies at the agency. From 2010 to 2017, Minnesota's NRCS staff has been reduced from 419 to 243 full-time employees, a nearly 42 percent drop off. The technical assistance provided by the NRCS is crucial for many farmer and ranchers, especially for beginning farmers and ranchers and producers interested in starting new conservation practices.
“Conservation on working lands is critically important to protect our natural resources for future farmers and ranchers,” the senators wrote. “For conservation plans to be implemented successfully, our farmers and ranchers rely on the expertise of the NRCS staff. The lack of staff has severely impacted NRCS customer service and made it difficult for the agency to operate its programs and meet its mission.”
The full text of the letter can be found below:
Dear Under Secretary Northey,
We write today about the staffing needs at Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices. Conservation on working lands is critically important to protect our natural resources for future farmers and ranchers. In Fiscal Year 2016, NRCS invested nearly $104 million in conservation practices and technical assistance in Minnesota.
Because Minnesota has high rates of participation in Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, we are concerned about the ongoing reorganization at the USDA and how it will affect the NRCS. Farmers and producers in Minnesota have reported high staff vacancies at NRCS state and field offices. From 2010 to 2017, Minnesota's NRCS staff has been reduced from 419 to 243 full-time employees (approximately a 42 percent drop off), and these numbers do not consider the 2017 federal hiring freeze.
The lack of staff has severely impacted NRCS customer service and made it difficult for the agency to operate its programs and meet its mission. The technical assistance provided by the NRCS is crucial for many, especially for beginning farmers and ranchers and producers interested in starting new conservation practices. For conservation plans to be implemented successfully, our farmers and ranchers rely on the expertise of the NRCS staff.
We therefore request a staffing update on NRCS offices in Minnesota, including any plans to hire additional staff to meet the needs of Minnesotans.
Thank you and we appreciate your consideration.
Sincerely,
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