Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to close hundreds of offices nationwide, including four in Oregon. Three are Farm Service Agency offices. FSA issued this press release today announcing meetings where officials will take public comment on the proposed closures:

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced that Lynn Voigt, state executive director for Oregon FSA, and members of his management team have scheduled public meetings in Tillamook, Polk and Grant Counties to take public comment on the USDA’s proposed office consolidation plan. The meetings scheduled are:

• Tillamook County: Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 9 a.m., Tillamook People’s Utility District Office Conference Room, 1115 Pacific Avenue (Hwy 101), Tillamook, Ore.
• Polk County: Friday, January 27, 2012 at 9:00 a.m., Polk County Fairgrounds Main Building, 520 S. Pacific Hwy. West, Rickreall, Ore.
• Grant County: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 9:00 a.m., US Forest Service Office, Juniper Hall, 431 Patterson Bridge Road, John Day, OR

FSA’s public meetings will be the only ones held to take public comment on USDA’s proposed office consolidation plan in which the Polk, Tillamook-Clatsop, and Grant County FSA offices are being considered for consolidation with other FSA County Office operations. Producers can also provide written comment by [email protected] or sending written comment to Lynn E. Voigt, State Executive Director, Farm Service Agency, Oregon State FSA Office, 7620 SW Mohawk Street, Tualatin, OR 97062-8121 no later than 10 calendar days after the scheduled public meeting.

All public comments will be taken into full consideration prior to development or implementation of a final consolidation plan. For more information, contact the Oregon State Farm Service Agency office at 503-692-6830.

The other USDA office in Oregon targeted for closure is an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) office in Salem.