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Local FSA offices struggling with staff shortages
Local Farm Service Agency offices are struggling with staffing shortages.
Minnesota state FSA director Whitney Place tells Brownfield one of the reasons is retirement.
“And we’re seeing that across the ag sector. At the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, that was a huge issue for us as well. We need to bring that next generation of the workforce into these agricultural jobs.”
She says USDA is allowing state FSA directors “a lot of leeway” to be creative when it comes to attracting and retaining talent in local offices.
“I know that at the county office, a lot of those positions are in house. But I’m really open also to, now that we’ve been through the pandemic, working from home options and any sort of benefits that we can provide to attract that talent into our agency.”
Place was recently appointed Minnesota FSA executive director after serving as assistant commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.