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"Prior to the implementation of this new plan, Iowa’s FSA county offices were safely operating at capacities that they deemed responsible and effective to serve their communities. They were following all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state, and local guidelines. Local agents demonstrated strong commitment to their communities by continuing to work day-in and day-out to support local farmers," wrote Congresswoman Hinson. "Unfortunately, the new USDA guidance has prevented our essential FSA agents from accomplishing their work at peak performance. Farmers across the state are not receiving the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments on which they depend, notification of their Conservation Reserve Program contract statuses, or other essential services from county FSA offices."
The full text of the letter can be found below:
Dear Secretary Vilsack and Administrator Ducheneaux,
I write to urge you to reconsider your decision to limit all U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offices an operating maximum of 25 percent capacity. This limitation does not take into consideration the wide variation in transmission rates and safety regulations across the country. Specifically, the 25 percent requirement outlined in the USDA Workplace Safety Plan approach is hurting Iowa farmers by obstructing the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) essential work.
On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing. Following this action, USDA implemented a new Workplace Safety Plan at the guidance of a memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OMB is based in Washington, DC, not in regional offices, and is therefore unfamiliar with the situation on the ground in Iowa. Regardless of this, the plan was implemented, and the FSA workforce was slashed to a mere 25 percent operating capacity.
Prior to the implementation of this new plan, Iowa’s FSA county offices were safely operating at capacities that they deemed responsible and effective to serve their communities. They were following all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state, and local guidelines. Local agents demonstrated strong commitment to their communities by continuing to work day-in and day-out to support local farmers. Unfortunately, the new USDA guidance has prevented our essential FSA agents from accomplishing their work at peak performance. Farmers across the state are not receiving the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments on which they depend, notification of their Conservation Reserve Program contract statuses, or other essential services from county FSA offices.
For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers have fought to ensure Americans have a strong and resilient food and fuel supply, working through supply chain disruptions, an economic downturn, and natural disasters – including the devastating August 2020 Derecho in Iowa. Initially, the federal government responded by providing farmers relief through CFAP and expanding farm programs and crop insurance distributed through county FSA offices. Now, the federal government is placing an unnecessary burden on what was a safe and successful operation supporting America’s farmers. This is devastating farmers and our rural communities in Iowa.
The USDA Workplace Safety Plan contains a provision indicating exceptions may be made where higher capacity is required for mission critical work. I respectfully request you deem FSA county offices exempt from the 25 percent capacity restriction under this provision. Clearly, keeping our farmers operating by proving much-needed pandemic and disaster relief is critical work.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and I look forward to working with you to fulfill our commitment to farmers.
Sincerely,
Ashley Hinson
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