BRIGHTON — Things may be getting busier at the Brighton USDA farm service office, dependent on federal cost cutting plans.
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture looks to close three Colorado offices out of the 259 nationwide under a cost cutting plan currently working its way through the departmental approval process.
    The three offices are tied to the Farm Service Agency branch of the USDA, and located in Longmont, Walsenberg and Monte Vista. Overflow from the closing of the Longmont location would likely be handled by the Brighton, Boulder and Fort Collins offices.
    The closures are expected to save the USDA some $150 million, to partially compensate for approximately $3 billion in budget cuts suffered since the 2010 budget cycle. The agency oversees emergency assistance, insurance, credit, conservation, environmental and commodity programs for agricultural producers across the country. 
    “The USDA, like families and businesses across the country, cannot continue to operate like we did 50 years ago,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We must innovate, modernize, and be better stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars. We must build on the record accomplishments of farm communities in 2011 with a stronger, more effective USDA in 2012 and beyond.”
    Farm Service Office County Executive Director Marty Reeves declined comment, forwarding inquiries to Colorado Executive director Trudy Kareus, who didn’t respond by press time.
According to their website, the Farm Service Agency has 2,100 offices across 32 states. USDA plans to hold public meetings on the closures before deciding whether to go ahead with the plan.

Contact Staff Writer Gene Sears at gsears@metrowestnewspapers.com