Hello again!
Your local Farm Service Agency accepted nominations for the county committee election. Each county office will host an election for local administrative areas. These areas are made up of certain townships within the county.
The FSA county committee system is unique among government agencies as it is a direct link between the local farmer and the USDA.
Duties
The producers that serve on the committee have a direct link in making decisions for the local office and the producers that it serves including hiring and evaluating the office manager and making decisions about commodity price support and loan programs, facility loans, conservation programs and farm disaster assistance programs, to mention a few.
Ballots
The election ballots will be sent out to all eligible voters starting Nov. 4. To be an eligible voter, farmers and producers must participate or cooperate in FSA programs. A person who is not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm can also vote.
Any voter who does not receive a ballot can obtain a ballot at their local FSA office.
In addition to elected members, FSA county committees may also include advisers. Advisers are appointed to county committees in counties or multi-county jurisdictions that have significant numbers of minority or women producers and lack such members on FSA county committees.
Advisers play an important role by providing diverse viewpoints and representing the interests of minorities and women in decisions made by county committees. FSA state committees officially appoint advisers who are recommended by county committees or community- based organizations.
Deadline
The last day for voters to submit ballots in person to their local FSA office is Dec. 5. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Dec. 5. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office Jan. 1.
For more information about FSA county committees and FSA programs, visit: www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.
That’s all for now,
FSA Andy
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