Senator calls for more USDA workers to respond to drought
October 20, 2017
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is calling on the federal Agriculture Department to send more workers to western North Dakota, where she says understaffed Farm Service Agency offices are dealing with an overwhelming workload worsened by a summer of crippling drought.
The North Dakota Democrat said farmers and ranchers deserved help and "not an IOU," and her office reported complaints of service wait times at the offices of a month or more. Acting FSA Administrator Steven Peterson in a statement said the agency was committed to "prompt, courteous service."
Much of western No...
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