Farm Service Agency County Committee Nomination Period Begins Monday

INDIANAPOLIS — Julia A. Wickard, state executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency, announced Friday that the nomination period for local FSA county committees begins Monday. “County committees play a vital role in the administration of federal farm programs and are the voice of local landowners and farmers. They have a positive effect on rural communities as they represent farmers in their area of the county,” said Wickard. “We have been seeing an increase in the number of nominations of women and minority candidates and I hope that trend continues.” To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area in which the person is a candidate. A complete list of eligibility requirements is posted online at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections Farmers may nominate themselves or others, and organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign the nomination form, FSA-669A. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available online at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections Nomination forms for the 2013 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business Aug. 1. Elections will take place this fall. While FSA county committees do not approve or deny farm ownership or operating loans, they make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs and other agricultural issues. Members serve three-year terms. Nationwide, there are about 7,800 farmers and ranchers serving on FSA county committees. In Indiana, committees consist of three to five members that are elected by eligible producers. FSA will mail ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 4. The voted ballots are due back to the local county office either via mail or in person by Dec. 2. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office Jan. 1.