Farm Services on the move

Agricultural agencies have a new home in Hardin County.

The United States Department of Agriculture Service Center in Elizabethtown has moved to a newly built location at the intersection of Lincoln Parkway and Sportsman Lake Road. The USDA center houses the Hardin/LaRue Farm Service Agency, the office of Rural Development, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Resource Conservation and Development program.

Services began to reopen Monday after the move.

The office formerly was on Westport Road in Elizabethtown and the lease was up for the space in the building.

John Goff, county executive director of the farm service agency, said his office has more space in the building, and he really likes the new location. The office serves Hardin and LaRue counties, now sits in a central location between the two.

“It’s more accessible for everyone,” Goff said.

The office provides agriculture programs to farmers and assists them in growing government commodities.
That is how farmer Ray Allan Mackey uses the office. He reports to the office for his involvement with government programs and the new location will be more convenient for him, especially now that he won’t have to pull into the parking lot with a trailer off a crowded city street.

The other offices serve Mackey as well. He will discuss issues such as water control with the conservation service and Rural Development can serve as a credit source for farmers, he said.

Scott McMahon, area specialist/office manager for Rural Development, also likes the accessibility of the new building. Rural Development serves nine counties.

Rural Development assists with creating infrastructure in rural locations. The conservation service works to maintain the soil, water, air, plants and animals. Resource Conservation and Development is a program within the conservation service.
The agencies can be reached at (270) 765-2702.

Kelly Cantrall can be reached at (270) 505-1747 or kcantrall@thenewsenterprise.com.