USDA subagencies struggling to get back on foot after move to Kansas City, MO. Also, the US Department of Agriculture’s role in combatting climate change challenges.
ERS & NIFA Impacted by 2019 Move from DC
Since moving from DC to Kansas City in the autumn of 2019, the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) have found it difficult to fill positions. Both are subagencies of the USDA and were moved to get at least a portion of the USDA closer to the heartland of America’s farmland, and former head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Mick Mulvaney described the maneuver as “a wonderful way to streamline government.” However, both the ERS and NIFA’s primary function is to provide advice on legislation by reporting to Congress… in DC, and they’ve both been struggling to find new employees in Missouri. A large chunk of the USDA workers that were asked to move decided to stay in DC and either find another job, or retire.
Before the move, in September 2019, ERS had 318 workers and NIFA had 219 for a total of 537. By the transition’s completion in November of that same year, ERS had lost 154 jobs, almost half of all positions, to bring their number of staff members to 164. NIFA also lost a little less than half of their staff, with 107 people leaving their employing agency, bringing the new total to 112. So, overall, 261 positions were vacated meaning the 537 filled jobs in DC became just 276 filled positions in Missouri. The most current data shows the two agencies combined have 315 employees, so 39 net hires have joined since the move, but that’s still 235 short of being fully staffed at 550. In DC, the agencies were only 13 shy of being completely full.
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NIFA provides grants for scientific research, and ERS’ mission entails producing scientific data related to rural economics, international trade, food safety, and food assistance to poor Americans. The impact from the loss of staff can mostly be seen in the decrease of productivity by the ERS. Since 2019, the output of the research service has been smaller in terms of scope and frequency. Whereas they published 37 reports in 2018, that fell 70.3% to just 11 such publications in 2020. Farmers have started leaning on private market analysis for the information they need to determine such matters like land purchases and new equipment needs. The ERS was known for a stellar reputation in this area, but the affected farmers are losing confidence in the research as it becomes less reliable. Laura Dodson, a union representative for ERS, recently remarked that the move to Kansas City “will affect ERS research for at least five years.”
USDA Affirms Leading Role in Facing Threats from Climate Change
On February 11, the National Climate Task Force met with agency leads from cabinet positions at the DOE, DOT, and USDA. The White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy leads the task force, and is striving to complete the daunting mission of overcoming the impending climate crisis. Specifically, to move toward conservation efforts that aim to protect 30% of the country’s water and land by 2030. The holistic strategy being applied by the task force affirms that the USDA will play a vital role in fulfilling the overall goals. The following lays out the first steps to be taken by the following components of the USDA:
-The Budget and Program Analysis Office will expand its 2018-2022 mission to craft clear-cut goals, targets, and metrics that will demonstrate “climate-smart” outcomes.
-The Risk Management Agency will work to incentivize “cover crops,” as well as continue other such programs, like the Crop Insurance Program, that hopes to sequester carbon emission.
-Grant-and-Loan Awarding Agencies (like NIFA) will expand research that places an emphasis on climate and conservation.
- Nature of the position applied for
- Seriousness and circumstances of conduct in question
- How recent the conduct occurred, and what age the applicant was at the time
- The presence of any “contributing societal conditions”
- The presence, if any, of rehabilitation efforts
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Until Next Time,
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