USDA will release its shortlist of potential spots for relocating the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the coming days and will decide on the final relocation spots by early May. This week, USDA Senior Advisor Kristi Boswell testified in front of a House panel that the relocation of the divisions would benefit both employees and taxpayers. Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman disagrees.
Lehman says if those offices are moved it will cause a loss of integrity for those offices and their services.
Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, the ranking member on the Ag Subcommittee, spoke in favor of the proposal. Lehman says his group and other ag organizations will try to convince him and other leaders not to allow those offices to be relocated.
Boswell told Congress under their plan the ERS would keep 76 jobs in Washington and relocated 253 positions, while NIFA would retain just 20 employees in D.C. and move 315 to the new site.
