JEFFERSONVILLE – Farmers from across Sullivan County told USDA officials from the federal agency’s Farm Service Agency that they don’t want the Liberty FSA office closed.

Washington is considering the move as a cost-savings consolidation. Farmers would have to travel to Walton in Delaware County for administration functions and to Walton or Middletown with questions about production.

USDA FSA New York Director James Barber said the concerns of the farmers who spoke at Thursday’s meeting saying they need the Sullivan County office, would be transmitted to Washington.

“All of the comments from this meeting and any written comments that come in for another 10 days following this meeting will be forwarded on to the secretary of Agriculture’s office for further consideration and a final decision will be made not sooner than 90 days after the public meeting,” he said.

As for State Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther’s offer to use her Monticello offices for meetings with farmers if the Liberty office is shuttered, Barber said by law they cannot accept the use of donated space.