For the long-term vitality of rural America, USDA is taking a close look at the way it does business. Due to many factors, including lower funding and staffing levels reflected in recent budgets passed by Congress, USDA must address its administrative costs, including facility, office and lab operations. The Blueprint for Stronger Service aims to build a modern and efficient service organization that is closely timed with technological innovations - and better suited to respond to 21st century agricultural challenges. The plan takes a realistic view of the needs of American agriculture in a challenging budget climate, and lays out USDA's plans to modernize and accelerate service delivery while improving the customer experience through use of innovative technologies and business solutions.

A Blueprint for Stronger Service details a list of recommendations, one of which includes the consolidation of 131 FSA County Offices in 32 states. In Pennsylvania, 7 County Offices have been recommended for closure. Through a targeted office consolidation effort, FSA is striving to balance significant budget cuts, staff reductions, and increasing workloads while focusing efforts of our staff to provide high quality service from the remaining 2,113 office locations nationwide.

FSA is required to hold a public meeting to take public comment on USDA's proposed office consolidation plan in each affected county being considered for consolidation. Below is a listing of FSA County Offices proposed for consolidation in Pennsylvania, as well as the notice of public meeting being held on the FSA consolidation plan. Individuals can provide written comment by emailing Bill Wehry, SED, at email bill.wehry@pa.usda.gov or sending written comment to the Pennsylvania State FSA Office, c/o Bill Wehry, SED, 1 Credit Union Place, Suite 320, Harrisburg, PA 17110 no later than 10 calendar days after the respective public meeting. All public comments will be taken in to full consideration prior to development or implementation of a final consolidation plan.

Blair County Office - Hollidaysburg, PA

Carbon/Monroe County Office - Lehighton, PA

Fulton County Office - McConnellsburg, PA

Lebanon County Office - Lebanon, PA

Mifflin County Office - Burnham, PA

Perry County Office - New Bloomfield, PA

Wyoming/Sullivan County Office - Tunkhannock, PA

December 22, 2011 - Pennsylvania FSA Highlights Fiscal 2011 Program Accomplishments

November 25, 2011 - Farm Service Agency Offers Producers a Free Online News Service

October 21, 2011 - Prevented Planting and Failed Acreage Application Reminder

Click here if you are a woman or Hispanic farmer and believe you were improperly denied farm loan benefits by USDA between 1981 and 2000. You may be eligible for compensation.

Welcome to the Pennsylvania Farm Service Agency's home on the web. With over 7.8 million acres of farmland, 58,000 farms, and $1.9 billion in agriculture exports annually, Pennsylvania has a thriving and vibrant 'ag' industry. FSA County Offices located throughout the Commonwealth deliver a variety of congressionally authorized credit and commodity programs to all of Pennsylvania's farmers and producers. For fiscal year 2011, the Pennsylvania FSA provided over $137.9 million in farm assistance program and loan payments. Through the administration of these programs FSA works to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural Americans. See FSA At Work Across Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania's State Office is located in Harrisburg while our 41 County Offices serve the needs of local farmers and ranchers. Our staff work diligently in support of the FSA mission: equitably serving all farmers, ranchers and producers, and agricultural partners through the delivery of effective, efficient agricultural programs for all Americans. Please visit our website periodically to obtain the most up-to-date agriculture information affecting you in Pennsylvania.

On January 29, 2010, the Obama Administration announced the appointment of Pennsylvania's State Committee.

State Committee members oversee the activities of the agency, including carrying out the state agricultural conservation programs, resolving appeals from the agriculture community and helping to keep producers informed about FSA programs.

Pictured from L to R are: Dr. Robert Mikesell, Member; Mr. Greg Hostetter, Member; Mr. Larry Kehl, Member; Ms. Sheryl Vanco, Chairperson; and Ms. Janet Lewis, Member.

Bill L. Wehry was named as the Farm Service Agency's Pennsylvania State Executive Director on June 30, 2009.

Bill's background includes a blend of production agriculture and public service. From 2003 to 2009, Bill served as the Deputy Secretary for Agriculture and Consumer Protection for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA). In this role, he oversaw the management of five agency Bureaus - Animal Health and Diagnostic Services, Food Safety and Laboratory Services, Ride and Measurement Standards, Farm Show and Farmland Preservation.

Bill is no stranger to FSA. For six years he served as a member of Pennsylvania's State Committee, with four of the six including appointments as Committee Chairman.

On the production agriculture side, Bill is an owner/partner in Meadow Creek Farms, a livestock and crops operation in Schuylkill County. An active Farm Bureau member, Bill has served on the Schuylkill County Farmland Preservation Board and other boards and organizations that support agriculture and its related industries.

A native Pennsylvanian, Bill resides in Klingerstown and is headquartered in Pennsylvania's Harrisburg office.