The following is a commentary by Garrett Hawkins, Missouri Farm Bureau President
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) wants to cut costs to the detriment of farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
The agency’s “Regional Transportation Optimization” proposal would place rural communities on the proverbial backburner. It would consolidate mail drop-off and pick-up for locations more than 50 miles from the nearest regional USPS hub.
Rural areas already lag behind in reliable broadband service, and residents rely heavily on the USPS. By the agency’s own admission, the plan will disproportionately impact rural mail delivery, including delays for timely medications, social security payments, business documents, and the list goes on.
Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins says the tax-payer-funded service must equally serve rural and urban areas to the maximum extent possible.
President Hawkins is available for interviews about this poor proposal via Zoom, phone or in person.
Missouri Farm Bureau is the state’s largest farm organization with a presence in every county throughout the state. Learn more on our website or follow @MissouriFarmBureau on Facebook, @MOFarmBureau on Twitter or @MOFarmBureau on Instagram.