Author Archives: tanya brown

Employee Wins Golden Award for ‘Policing’ Correspondence

Posted on September 29, 2011 by tanya brown

Deirdre Ledbetter describes herself as a go-getter. And according to the Office of the Executive Secretariat, she is right. OEA awarded Ledbetter the Golden Envelope Award, a quarterly honor that recognizes one member of the correspondence office that demonstrates excellence … Continue reading →

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USDA Farm Service Agency Decreases Complaint Rate to Lowest Level in History

Posted on September 28, 2011 by tanya brown

The USDA Farm Service Agency has reduced the number of civil rights complaints in fiscal year 2010 to the lowest level in the agency’s history, while increasing the number of loans and dollar amount obligated to programs dedicated to minority … Continue reading →

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Immigrant Farmers Reap Harvest of Opportunities

Posted on September 27, 2011 by tanya brown

  The Ho family farm is a model operation in Hawaii. From l to r: Le Xieng, Shin, Wei Chong and Neil.   Portions of this article were written by Michael Tsai and reprinted with permission of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser   … Continue reading →

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Senators Aim to Cut Federal Workforce by 10 Percent

Posted on September 27, 2011 by tanya brown

A bill introduced in the House and Senate last Friday would trim the federal workforce by 10 percent through attrition. Introduced by Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson and South Carolina Senator Mick Mulvaney, the bill is expected to save $139 billion … Continue reading →

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Mass. Executive Officer Honored as Professional of the Year

Posted on September 27, 2011 by tanya brown

 Thomas E. Smiarowski (right), pictured with FSA State Executive Director Richard Burke, received the Professional Employee of the Year Administrative Award last week during the Western Massachusetts Federal Executive Association Award Ceremony. Thomas E. Smiarowski, executive officer of the Massachusetts … Continue reading →

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FSA Employees Recognized for Going Above and Beyond

Posted on September 26, 2011 by tanya brown

Farm Service Agency employees from around the country were honored for their outstanding service last Friday during the 2011 Administrator’s Awards for Service to Agriculture. Several group and individual awards were given in six different categories that include civil rights … Continue reading →

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“And the Winner is…” Breakfast Kick’s Off 2011 Administrator’s Awards

Posted on September 23, 2011 by tanya brown

FSA Administrator Bruce Nelson held a breakfast reception this morning in his office to personally thank awardees of the 2011 Administrator’s Award for Service to Agriculture. The awards program, which will be held today at 2 p.m. EDT. at the USDA … Continue reading →

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Abilene County Office Has Best FSA Employee in the Nation

Posted on September 21, 2011 by tanya brown

A worker in the Abilene, Kan., county office has been recognized as the top FSA employee of the year. Ellen Alvarez, a 47-year public servant was honored by the National Association of FSA County Office Employees during a convention last … Continue reading →

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Deficit Plan Asks Feds to Pay More Toward Retirement, Cut FERS Annuity

Posted on September 21, 2011 by tanya brown

The president’s recently proposed plan to cut the deficit would increase contribution amounts made by employees toward their retirement and eliminate Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuity supplement for new employees. The plan also would create a commission to help … Continue reading →

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FSA Increases Guaranteed Loan Fees to 1.5 Percent

Posted on September 20, 2011 by tanya brown

The Farm Service Agency is amending the fees charged and collected for guaranteed loans, effective Oct. 1, 2011. According to a Sept. 20 federal register notice, FSA currently charges a 1 percent fee of the guaranteed amount on all guaranteed … Continue reading →

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