USDA FSA County Committee Nominations start June 15

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Scherrie Giamanco announced today that county committee election nominations begin June 15, 2011.  Farmers, ranchers and landowners are encouraged to nominate farmer and rancher candidates to serve on their  local FSA county committee by the August 1, 2011 deadline. 

Elected county committee members serve a three-year term and are responsible for making decisions on FSA disaster, conservation, commodity, and price support programs, as well as other important federal farm program issues.

"County committee members are a valuable asset because they are local producers who participate in FSA programs themselves and have a direct connection to farmers and ranchers in the community,” said Giamanco.  "I would like to see a high level of participation in this year’s nomination and election process,” she said.  

Producers may nominate themselves or others as candidates.  Organizations that represent minority and women farmers and ranchers may also nominate candidates.   Nominees must participate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area (LAA) in which the person is a candidate.   To become a nominee, eligible individuals must sign form FSA-669A.  The form and more information about county committee elections are available online at:  HYPERLINK "http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections"www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.

“It is important that the county committee reflects the demographics and agricultural interests of the community these individuals represent,” Giamanco said. “I strongly encourage all producers, including women, minority and beginning farmers and ranchers to participate in the nomination and election process,” she said.

County committees are comprised of three to five members elected by local producers.  All newly elected county committee members and alternates will take office January 1, 2012.

Nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on August 1, 2011.

For more information about county committees, please contact your local County FSA office or visit HYPERLINK "http://www.fsa.usda.gov"www.fsa.usda.gov.

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