MEMORANDUM

TO: Ron Long, Assembly President

Members, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

THRU: John J. Williams, Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor

FROM: Milli Martin, Assembly Member

DATE: November 23, 2005

SUBJECT: Resolution 2005-102, in support of the current USDA farm county system and maintaining a full service farm service office in Homer

The Farm Service Agency ("FSA") is operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and designed to assist farmers by stabilizing farm income, helping to conserve land and water resources, and making and guaranteeing certain farm loans. Earlier in 2005, the USDA announced its intentions to establish the "FSA Tomorrow" program which was designed to modernize FSA technology and to consolidate the FSA offices in order to reduce expenses. However, in reaching this decision, the various user groups were not consulted, and a variety of objections have been raised regarding the FSA Tomorrow plan. On October 15, 2005, the USDA put the FSA Tomorrow plan on hold. If it were implemented, this plan would have a significant detrimental effect on Alaska due to the large distances, differences in agricultural areas, and programs administered by the four offices in Alaska. For example, the "Homer County" is as large as Texas and is run by one office. This resolution supports the current USDA farm county system and requests that the Washington, D.C. delegation intercede on behalf of Alaskan farmers and stock growers to request that the plan to consolidate be withdrawn. Your support of this resolution is appreciated.