News

Uncertainty reigns; FSA closures proposed

A member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee says the Trump administration is creating uncertainty that hurts farmers.            

Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski says she’s hearing about the impact of on and off tariffs, and cuts to the USDA.

“What I heard today, if I could encapsulate it into one word, is the uncertainty.”  She says, “The uncertainty of what they’re facing right now and how the tariffs are really exacerbating so much of this uncertainty for agriculture.”

She tells Brownfield new reports of proposals to potentially close county-level Farm Service Agency offices add to the issues.

“That specifically came up.”  She says, “When those offices close, that’s a complete elimination of a resource for a grower that otherwise would not have that access to those specialty staff members that are going to be able to help them navigate the federal bureaucracy.”

Rodney Weinzierl, executive director of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, says those closures would make an impact.

“I do think our members like to deal with people when they go into the Farm Service Agency, so we need to see more what the detail looks like,” he says.

Budzinski heard those concerns and others on Wednesday from members of her ag advisory council at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield.

AUDIO: Rep. Nikki Budzinski meets with media