Wichita ? Facing mounting opposition, the Farm Service Agency has revamped its initial proposal to close offices across Kansas.

FSA, which handles federal crop payments to farmers, has instead decided to keep three of the 11 targeted offices open. It also modified its plans to restructure others.

The changes came in the wake of public hearings in the affected counties that drew more than 1,400 people and elicited criticism from Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., whose district encompasses western Kansas.

The final restructuring plan reverses an earlier decision to close offices in Morton, Gove and Barber counties. Those offices – in Elkhart, Gove and Medicine Lodge – would remain open in the revised plan.

Other changes made under the proposal:

¢ The Leavenworth/Wyandotte County office in Leavenworth will be consolidated with the Jefferson County office in Oskaloosa. The Atchison County office in Effingham will be converted from a shared management to a stand-alone operation.

¢ FSA’s Comanche County office in Coldwater will be consolidated with Barber County in Medicine Lodge. Clark County will keep its stand-alone office.

¢ The combined Elk-Chatauqua County office in Howard will be split. Chatauqua County will be combined with the Montgomery County office in Independence, while Elk County will be consolidated with the Greenwood County office in Eureka.

Five other targeted offices will be closed and consolidated as first proposed:

¢ Chase County (Cottonwood Falls) will be joined with Lyon County (Emporia).

¢ Johnson County (Olathe) will be consolidated with Miami County (Paola).

¢ Geary County (Junction City) will be joined with Riley County (Manhattan).

¢ Woodson County (Yates Center) will go to Wilson County (Fredonia).

¢ Wabaunsee County (Alma) will be consolidated with Pottawatomie County. The office in Westmoreland will be relocated to Wamego.

The final proposed plan has been submitted to the FSA national office for approval.