Farm Service Agency Office Temporarily Open To Assist Producers

The Valley County USDA Farm Service Agency office, 54059 US Hwy 2, Suite 1, Glasgow, will be open temporarily Thursday, Jan. 17, Friday, Jan. 18, and Tuesday, Jan. 22, during normal business hours, to assist producers with specific services including processing payments made on or before Dec. 31, continue expiring financing statements and open mail to identify priority items. While staff are available in person during this three-day window, most available services can be handled over the phone by contacting the office at 406-228-4321.

Services that are not available include, but are not limited to new direct or facility loans, new farm loan guarantees, new marketing assistance loans, new applications for Market Facilitation Program (MFP), certification of 2018 production for MFP payments and dairy margin protection program.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue made the announcement Jan. 16, stating in a press release, “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, 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.”