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Crittenden Landlord Fights for Farm Service Agency Office

Posted on: Thursday, 28 July 2005, 12:00 CDT

Jul. 28--MARION, Ky. -- Landlord Thom Hawthorne is in the nation's capital today asking the federal government not to close the Crittenden County Farm Service Agency office and merge it with one in neighboring Livingston County.

The office is among 30 statewide being considered for closure by the financially strapped agency, which provides federal help to farmers. Kentucky has 90 FSA offices in 120 counties.

Fifty-one of 450 FSA jobs in Kentucky, including three in Marion, might be cut as part of a national staff reduction of more than 600.

Hawthorne, who recently learned the Marion office might close, went to Washington, D.C., Wednesday to meet with legislative aides, said his father, Thomas Hawthorne.

The Hawthorne family renovated the building (the former Hunt Feed Mill at 118 Bellville St.) in 1998 to accommodate the FSA and Natural Resources and Conservation Service, and spent another $65,000 last year expanding and improving the building, Thomas Hawthorne said. The FSA signed a new five-year lease in 2004, but has a 30-day escape clause.

"All of a sudden, they decided it might close and nobody was given a reason," the elder Hawthorne said. "We don't need to lose anymore jobs in Marion."

Jeff Miles, press secretary for U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Hopkinsville, said Whitfield staffers plan to meet with Thom Hawthorne today.

"We're going to watch it closely and anticipate getting a briefing next month from the FSA as to the criteria they're using," Miles said.

Attempts to reach the younger Hawthorne by cell phone were unsuccessful. Thomas Hawthorne, a retiree who helps with the rental property, said his son asked local public officials to lend support.

The Crittenden County Fiscal Court and the Marion City Council passed resolutions last week asking the federal government to reconsider, even though an official list of targeted closings has not come out. Definitive word is expected within two weeks, said Bob Finch, communications coordinator for the Lexington-based Kentucky FSA.

"I can't comment on the Livingston-Crittenden situation because I don't think any of that has been firmed up yet," Finch said. "The issue has been discussed and it would be logical combination because there is one manager between two offices."

Twelve of the 13 counties from Cadiz west have FSA offices; Lyon County shares an office with Caldwell County at Princeton. In the 13-county area, the FSA employs 47 and handled $27.5 million in payments last year. The largest office is in Mayfield, with eight employees and $6.24 million in payments.

Forty-three of the 51 positions being eliminated relate directly to tobacco. Finch said that favors western Kentucky because it has less tobacco than other parts of the state.

Workloads will lessen because of the tobacco buyout and elimination of the federal price-support system, he explained. Aside from tracking production, quota and leases of tobacco, the FSA handles loan programs, grain price supports, environmental programs, business plans and disaster assistance.

The Livingston County FSA office, in Salem, employs two people. Crittenden County Judge-Executive Fred Brown says his county has 180 more farms and $400,000 more annual government payments than Livingston County.

"It's going to handicap our farmers pretty severely if they go ahead with the closure," he said. "Certainly we're doing all we can to prevent it."

Finch, who noted his office has had many complaint calls, said the planned job cuts and office mergers stem from ongoing budgetary problems. Older workers are being offered early-retirement incentives, he said.

"We have a budget shortfall to get through this year and we know we're not going to have enough money for staff next year," he said. "To adjust for a smaller work force and smaller budget, we need to realign offices."

Finch said some offices are less than 15 to 20 miles apart, and the agency is factoring such things as distance, normal travel flow and convenience. Farmers may opt to go to another neighboring office if that is better for them, he said.

STAFFING/2004 PAYMENTS AT AREA FARM SERVICE AGENCY OFFICES:

Ballard County -- three employees, $1.96 million.

Caldwell/Lyon County -- six employees, $2.8 million.

Calloway County -- six employees, $2.89 million.

Carlisle County -- three employees, $1.79 million.

Crittenden County -- three employees, $1.75 million.

Fulton County -- two employees, $1.84 million.

Graves County -- eight employees, $6.24 million.

Hickman County -- four employees, $2.8 million.

Livingston County -- two employees, $1.47 million.

Marshall County -- four employees, $1.29 million.

McCracken County -- three employees, $1.3 million.

Trigg County -- three employees, $1.37 million.

Total -- 47 employees, $27.5 million.

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Source: The Paducah Sun

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