USDA Scientists refusing to move/relocate to Missouri

[Anonymous]

Ph.D. scientists tend strongly to be married to other Ph.D. scientists. The reason many are attracted to Fed jobs in DC is because it is a comparatively easy place to solve the academic two-body problem (other universities, fed agencies, think tanks, etc.). It's utterly cruel and stupid to relocate these scientists. The best and most experienced will likely be able (and motivated) to jump ship into another position in the DC area, resulting in a huge brain drain in the USDA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, this is a first. Scientists are deserting the USDA and refusing to move to the Kansas City Area.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/07/17/742519999/future-of-key-farming-research-uncertain-as-2-3-of-usda-staff-say-they-wont-move

GOOD for them


Now usda can hire my recent college grad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, this is a first. Scientists are deserting the USDA and refusing to move to the Kansas City Area.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/07/17/742519999/future-of-key-farming-research-uncertain-as-2-3-of-usda-staff-say-they-wont-move

GOOD for them


Now usda can hire my recent college grad

Does your recent college grad have a PhD in the desired areas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This is ridiculous. It's like the Coast Guard refusing to be based on the freaking coastline.

Coast Guard headquarters is landlocked: it's on a hill in SE DC. It's there because HQ functions are all about talking to the Hill, the president, and department heads of other agencies. Nobody at HQ has a job on a boat. Just like nobody at USDA HQ is doing field office work.

My neighbor works in an affected part of USDA. He does economic forecasting. Putting him in KC accomplishes nothing, and separates him from professional data scientists which are thick on the ground in DC.

[Anonymous]

We already have a ton of staff in KC and multiple properties. But, they are for agency functions that interact directly with farmers (auditors, inspectors, graders,etc). ERS and NIFA interact with other research institutions and Congress. This is about punishment and political favors.

[Anonymous]

Local goverments engaging in incentive bidding wars for private sector companies is bad enough, but for Federal agencies it is grotesque. The Triangle offered $10.5 million for the USDA agencies but was beaten out by KC's 26 million.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article232841422.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Local goverments engaging in incentive bidding wars for private sector companies is bad enough, but for Federal agencies it is grotesque. The Triangle offered $10.5 million for the USDA agencies but was beaten out by KC's 26 million.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article232841422.html

Are you kidding? That was incredibly cheap of NC. They have 3 times the GDP of Kansas!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Local goverments engaging in incentive bidding wars for private sector companies is bad enough, but for Federal agencies it is grotesque. The Triangle offered $10.5 million for the USDA agencies but was beaten out by KC's 26 million.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article232841422.html

Are you kidding? That was incredibly cheap of NC. They have 3 times the GDP of Kansas!

And 2 time the GDP of Missouri.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, this is a first. Scientists are deserting the USDA and refusing to move to the Kansas City Area.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/07/17/742519999/future-of-key-farming-research-uncertain-as-2-3-of-usda-staff-say-they-wont-move

GOOD for them


Now usda can hire my recent college grad

Does your recent college grad have a PhD in the desired areas?

A masters in agricultural science from VT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, this is a first. Scientists are deserting the USDA and refusing to move to the Kansas City Area.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/07/17/742519999/future-of-key-farming-research-uncertain-as-2-3-of-usda-staff-say-they-wont-move

GOOD for them


Now usda can hire my recent college grad

Does your recent college grad have a PhD in the desired areas?

A masters in agricultural science from VT.

So no. Not qualified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, this is a first. Scientists are deserting the USDA and refusing to move to the Kansas City Area.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/07/17/742519999/future-of-key-farming-research-uncertain-as-2-3-of-usda-staff-say-they-wont-move

GOOD for them


Now usda can hire my recent college grad

Does your recent college grad have a PhD in the desired areas?

A masters in agricultural science from VT.

So no. Not qualified.

Qualifications don't matter in this administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, this is a first. Scientists are deserting the USDA and refusing to move to the Kansas City Area.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/07/17/742519999/future-of-key-farming-research-uncertain-as-2-3-of-usda-staff-say-they-wont-move

GOOD for them


Now usda can hire my recent college grad

Does your recent college grad have a PhD in the desired areas?

A masters in agricultural science from VT.

So no. Not qualified.

Qualifications don't matter in this administration.

That’s not true. They care deeply about qualifications, just not the ones you’re used to.

Does he believe in creationism?

Does he believe climate change is a hoax?

A yes to the above is all the qualifications he needs for this administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Many people don't seem to realize how difficult it is to hire scientific staff. Not just at fed, but private also. There's a reason Amazon chose this area, it's because being here helps with recruiting talented staff. That's also why stem staff are given perks in private sector, its to keep them.

The economy is good. The scientists should be able to find jobs relatively easy in this area. I imagine the new openings will go to relatively new college grads who will go anywhere for a decent job. A lot of institutional knowledge as well as experience will disappear. If that happens, I wonder how long it will take for programs to recover. It’s not as simple as moving a car company from Detroit, MI to Greenville, SC and almost every job requires little brain power and a lot of monotony actions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is ridiculous. It's like the Coast Guard refusing to be based on the freaking coastline.

Coast Guard headquarters is landlocked: it's on a hill in SE DC. It's there because HQ functions are all about talking to the Hill, the president, and department heads of other agencies. Nobody at HQ has a job on a boat. Just like nobody at USDA HQ is doing field office work.

My neighbor works in an affected part of USDA. He does economic forecasting. Putting him in KC accomplishes nothing, and separates him from professional data scientists which are thick on the ground in DC.

Is your neighbor making the move?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, lots of people jealous of "entitled" public servants and wanting to punish them here...

Please, if you want to get a fed job, no one is stopping you!

Well, pop is correct. Lots of jealousy over all of the ‘benefits’ and supposed perks Feds receive.
Let me tell you, my Fed day care still charges over $2k per month for an infant. Subsidized, my ass.