Ag Groups Urge USDA To Beef Up Its Staff

More than 120 agricultural and conservation organizations are urging Congress to address staffing shortages at local USDA offices, warning that reduced personnel levels are making it harder for farmers and ranchers to access critical programs and services. In a letter to Senate agriculture appropriations leaders, 123 groups called for adequate fiscal year 2027 funding for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency. Agri-Pulse said the coalition also supports House-passed language that would prevent the permanent relocation of county-based employees if doing so would leave an office with two or fewer staff members. The organizations cited USDA data showing more than 20,000 employees left the department between January and June 2025, including 22 percent of NRCS staff and 24 percent of FSA employees. "For many American agriculture operations, timely access to USDA staff and resources can directly impact whether an operation remains financially viable during periods of economic stress or weather-related losses," the groups wrote.