The U.S. Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers and ranchers in Baxter and Marion counties to nominate candidates to lead, serve and represent their community on their local county committee of The Farm Service Agency (FSA).
County committees are unique to FSA and allow producers to have a voice on federal farm program implementation at the local level. FSA officials say it is also important committees are comprised of members who fairly represent the diverse demographics of production agriculture for their community. All producers, including women, minority and beginning farmers and ranchers, are encouraged to participate in the nomination and election process.
Producers across the country are already serving on committees where they play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of FSA, making important decisions on programs dealing with disaster and conservation, emergencies, commodity loan price support, county office employment and other agricultural issues.
Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated farmers and ranchers serve on FSA county committees, consisting of three to 11 members and meet once a month, or as needed. Members serve three-year terms.
Producers can nominate themselves or others. Organizations, including those representing beginning farmers, women and minority producers, may also nominate candidates to better serve their communities.
To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program and reside in the area where the election is being held.
This year, nominations and elections for Baxter and Marion counties will be held in local administrative areas two and four. Producers can contact the local FSA office to find out what areas these local administrative areas encompass.
To be considered, a producer must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections FSA elections, or from the Baxter County FSA office.
All nomination forms for the 2018 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by August 1st.
For more information, visit farmers.gov USDA.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI