Two USDA offices to close in Central Missouri region

In a reorganization effort, two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offices in Central Missouri will be closed.

The offices to be closed are the Rural Development Office in Jefferson City and the Farm Service Agency in Versailles.

The Rural Development Office in Jefferson City is located in a building at 1911 Boggs Creek Road, which also houses other farm service agencies.

The work performed by the two employees of the USDA Rural Development Office in Jefferson City will be transferred to the Rural Development office in Eldon.

The Jefferson City office served the counties of Cole, Gasconade, Maries, Moniteau and Osage.

Duties performed by the Farm Service Agency office in Versailles will be transferred to other offices in the region.

The Farm Service Agency in Versailles is one of 131 offices to be closed in 32 states. Another 2,100 Farm Service Agency offices will remain open throughout the United States.

Closing the offices is part of a nationwide plan to streamline the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Jefferson City Rural Development office is one of 43 closed in 17 states. More than 450 Rural Development offices remain in the United States.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said most of the offices recommended for closure were either not staffed or staffed with just one or two employees. Improved technology has reduced the need for the offices.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.