Kansas NRCS to Follow FSA's Proposed County Office Restructuring Plan

In response to a news release issued by the Kansas Farm Service Agency (FSA) on February 15, State Conservationist Harold L. Klaege, Salina, said that the NRCS would follow the plan proposed by the FSA in consolidating offices across the state. The NRCS is collocated at the USDA Service Centers affected in Cottonwood Falls, Coldwater, Olathe, Junction City, Howard, Yates Center, Medicine Lodge, Elkhart, Alma, Leavenworth, and Gove.

"With budgets becoming tight for federal agencies," Klaege said, "USDA partners are trying to find ways to effectively and efficiently serve their clients and in NRCS's case, get more conservation on the land. As a USDA partner, it makes sense that NRCS and FSA locate together to serve their clients."

FSA will hold public meetings in the counties where offices are proposed being closed.

"NRCS intends to participate in the information meetings as shown in the FSA news release," said Klaege.

"It is our intent that office consolidation be a smooth transition," said Klaege, "and that farmers and ranchers records be available in the county where the USDA Service Center is located or if the client desires, a neighboring county."

"Regardless of the office location," he said, "farmers and ranchers should be assured that NRCS will be there to serve them and to provide the conservation technical assistance they want and to deliver the voluntary programs that Congress has authorized and funded, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and others.

"Today, with the latest portable technology at their fingertips, such as laptop computers, geographic information system technology, printers, cell phones, and more, NRCS field staff can meet with a farmer or rancher on the land and develop a conservation plan on site," said Klaege.

"This is how Hugh Hammond Bennett, the father of the soil conservation movement during the Dust Bowl days in the 1930's, envisioned conservation planning, by walking the land with the farmer or rancher."

In Kansas, NRCS has an office in 103 counties. In December, the Sedan Field Office consolidated with the Howard Field Office.

NRCS and local conservation districts have shared office space and equipment and office staff since the passage of the Conservation District Law in the late 1930's. A steering committee made up of representatives from the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts (KACD), the State Conservation Commission (SCC), the KACD Employees' Organization, and NRCS are working together to determine how local conservation districts will maintain a presence in their county when NRCS consolidates.

As new information becomes available, NRCS will issue a news release, or you may contact the NRCS public affairs specialist at 785-823-4571 to arrange an interview with Klaege.

Additional Information

• NRCS Program information
• Kansas FSA County Office Restructuring Plan

Last Modified: 02/16/2007