USDA playing catch-up with payments
Doug Niemeir, county executive director of the United States Department of Agriculture/Farm Service Agency in Fort Scott, is relieved the federal shutdown is over. However, Niemeir expressed disappointment regarding what the farmers and ranchers of Bourbon County had to go through during the lengthy shutdown.
"It was very frustrating, for the employees and also for the farm producer that is our customer, who we are working with," Niemeir said. "Honestly, the most unfortunate thing, timing wise, was the fact that most of our program payments we deal with are made at the beginning of the fiscal year which starts Oct. 1. That was also the day the furlough started, so we were unable to start on those payments."
The USDA is primarily responsible for developing and executing federal government policy on farming, agriculture, forestry and food. The USDA's vision statement is to: Expand economic opportunity through innovation, helping rural America to thrive; to promote agriculture production sustainability that better nourishes Americans while also helping feed others throughout the world; and to preserve and conserve our Nation's natural resources through restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands.
Niemeir almost exclusively deals with production and conservation programs. One of the main program's Neimeir's office works with is the Conservation Reserve Program. The Farm Bill of 1985 officially established the Conservation Reserve Program. The CRP, later implemented in 1986, was designed to provide an economic boost to farmers and ranchers during a time of economic depression and extended drought-like conditions, as well as to foster conservation efforts. According to Niemeir, some of the conservation benefits of the program include the enhancement of water quality, soil conservation and better protection of wildlife habitat.
"The Conservation Reserve Program is very popular," Niemeir said. "In that program, we lease ground out, which goes to a permanent cover and preserves soil. It also provides cover for wildlife habitat like quail and other upland game birds, such as pheasant and prairie chickens. Grass is the best water filter that is out there because it filters most of the pollutants out of the cover. We have a number of people who participate in this program, from Bourbon and surrounding counties."
Niemeir said due to the federal shutdown, his office was unable to make rental payments to its customers during the duration of the shutdown, which lasted from Oct. 1 to Oct. 17. Even though the shutdown has ended, his office is not currently online due to technical issues with its computer system being unable to access payments. However, Niemeir said this issue should be resolved shortly.
"I was very, very surprised the shutdown lasted this long," Niemeir said. "It sure took them a long time to resolve it compared to the past. Next week, our customers should receive their annual rental payments."