Effects of the ongoing federal government shutdown continue to expand as Farm Services Agency employees were officially furloughed Monday. The agency had been able to continue operate for the past week on remaining funds that had previously been appropriated.

Furloughs will continue until funding is restored.

FSA employees at the USDA Service Center in Eads will not have access to email or voicemail during the furlough period. The Natural Resources Conservation Service office will remain open, however two long-time NRCS employees will retire at the end of the day Monday as previously planned, leaving no full-tie employees for the facility. Beginning January 2, Kiowa County NRCS matters are being referred to the Cheyenne County NRCS office, which can be contacted at 719-767-5648, extension 3.