The nomination period for local Farm Service Agency county committees will begin Friday (June 15). Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is urging all farmers and ranchers to participate in this year’s county committee elections by nominating candidates by the August 1st deadline. Vilsack says county committees are a vital link between the farm community and USDA. He says they provide a voice to landowners, farmers and ranchers so they have an opportunity for their opinions and ideas to be heard. The FSA county committees don’t approve or deny farm operating loans – but they do make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs and other agricultural issues.

Those who participate or cooperate in an FSA-administered program and are eligible to vote in a county committee election are eligible to serve on an FSA county committee. They must also reside in the local administrative area in which they are a candidate. Organizations that represent minorities and women can nominate candidates. Farmers and ranchers may nominate themselves or others. An eligible individual must sign the nomination form to become a candidate. The forms for the 2012 election must be postmarked or received by the close of business on August 1st. The FSA-669A form and other information is available online at www dot fsa dot usda dot gov slash elections (www.fsa.usda.gov/elections).

The elections will take place in the fall – with ballots mailed to eligible voters beginning November 5th. Voted ballots will be due back to the local county office by December 3rd. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office on January 1st and will serve three-year terms. Each committee consists of three to 11 members. Currently about 77-hundred farmers and ranchers serve on FSA county committees nationwide.