Farm Service Agency Staff Reductions Across the US

July 1, 2026

In early June, Prospect Partners LLC, in partnership with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) released a report showing that between 2024 and 2026, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) had lost nearly 2,000 employees.

FSA is a farmer-facing government agency that provides federal assistance to farmers and ranchers in the face of tumultuous markets and natural disasters. FSA was key in providing front line assistance in response the H5N1 in livestock and in response to damage on private lands in the response to the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire.

Of the staff lost, more than 600 were County Office employees. These employees are the ones actually providing services to farmers and ranchers in county offices and are critical in delivering programs outlined in the farm bill.

According to the report, over one third of offices had staffing declines and 42 offices nationwide were left unstaffed. Many of New Mexico’s counties, especially those in the eastern half of the state, saw a decline in staffing in the last year.

What is most interesting about the report is that Prospect Partners LLC and NSAC also included information about County Office employees. FSA County Office employees make up roughly 7,000 of FSA’s roughly 11,000 employees (estimates are based on historical staffing levels).

County employees share many of the same benefits as federal employees but their legal status differs. For this reason, county employees are usually excluded from statistical information provided by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

This report highlights the direct impact staffing cuts are having on rural communities. As the number of FSA employees decreases, farmers and ranchers will struggle to gain program access and receive the support they need from the federal government.

NRCS Staffing in New Mexico

In addition to staffing changes at the Farm Service Agency (FSA), NRCS has also experienced severe staffing reductions. In January of 2025, New Mexico NRCS had 186 staff. As of January 2026, NRCS staffing is down to 127, a reduction of 59 employees statewide. For farmers and ranchers, this means longer wait times for government programs and in many cases less access to USDA resources.