USDA to Reopen FSA Offices for Limited Services During Government Shutdown
Author
Published
1/16/2019
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that many Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices will reopen temporarily in the coming days to perform certain limited services for farmers and ranchers.
The media release with more information is linked here.
In almost half of FSA locations, FSA staff will be available to assist agricultural producers with existing farm loans and to ensure the agency provides 1099 tax documents to borrowers by the Internal Revenue Service’s deadline.
“Until Congress sends President Trump an appropriations bill in the form that he will sign, we are doing our best to minimize the impact of the partial federal funding lapse on America’s agricultural producers,” Perdue said. “We are bringing back part of our FSA team to help producers with existing farm loans. Meanwhile, we continue to examine our legal authorities to ensure we are providing services to our customers to the greatest extent possible during the shutdown.”
Staff members will be available at certain FSA offices to help producers with specific services, including:
• Processing payments made on or before December 31, 2018.
• Continuing expiring financing statements.
• Opening mail to identify priority items.
Additionally, as an intermittent incidental duty, staff may release proceeds from the sale of loan security by signing checks jointly payable to FSA that are brought to the county office by producers.
County FSA offices will be open to do limited activities in the following counties. While staff are available in person during this three-day window, most available services can be handled over the phone.
Boone
Buchanan
Buena Vista
Cass
Cedar
Cerro Gordo
Chickasaw
Clarke-Decatur Co. Service Ctr.
Clayton
Clinton
Crawford
Davis
Delaware
Dubuque
Guthrie
Hardin
Henry
Ida
Iowa
Jackson
Jasper
Keokuk
Kossuth
Lucas
Monona
Monroe-Appanoose Co. Service Center
Montgomery
Osceola
Page
Palo Alto
Pocahontas
Ringgold
Shelby
Sioux
Tama
Van Buren
Winneshiek
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