AgriLife Extension Programs across the state are feeling the effects of cutbacks and many have had to make some tough decisions regarding positions being eliminated. State officials have already notified the employees of numerous offices whose jobs will end sometime between now and October 31 according to an article in AgriLife News.
State budget reductions of 5% have caused the downsizing of 94 Agricultural Extension Agency jobs statewide. Some of these jobs will be positions left unfilled (31) and others will be elimination of current positions (63). Of the statewide cutbacks, ¼ of the jobs are being eliminated at the agency’s College Station headquarters.
An excerpt from the AgriLife News article, explains how the cutbacks were determined:
“Leaders of the state agency, which has offices in 250 Texas counties, said their decisions were based on maintaining core programs statewide.
‘Counties currently being served by a single extension agent or through a shared position will not be impacted by the new staffing plan,’ said Darrell Dromgoole, AgriLife Extension associate director for county programs. ‘We looked most closely at counties where we had three or more positions, especially if more than one employee supported the same subject matter,’ said Dromgoole.”
Brown County however has a strong extension office and is not being affected by the cutbacks at this time officials said. The three extension agents were able to dodge the job losses. Officials said that Brown County is an area of strong programs and strong community backing.
“Our office is thankful that we didn’t lose anyone this time around,” stated Chelsea Stevens, Brown County Extension Agent.
Extension agents are an integral part of county 4-H programs as well as the AgriLife Extension’s youth programs. Officials at the Texas AgriLife Extension Program stated that all county Extension personnel will share full responsibility for programming where needed.
“Youth programming remains a strong emphasis of our agency,” Dromgoole said in the article.