FSA county committee nomination period begins Friday

The U.S. Department of Agriculture encourages America’s farmers and ranchers to nominate candidates to lead, serve and represent their community on their local county committees. According to the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Carter County Executive Director, Robin Markuson, FSA 1, will accept nominations for county committee members beginning Friday, June 15.

Producers across the country are already serving on committees, playing a critical role in the day-to-day operations of FSA. They are making important decisions regarding disaster and conservation emergencies, commodity loan price support, county office employment and other agricultural issues.

"County committees are unique to FSA and allow producers to have a voice on federal farm program implementation at the local level," said Markuson. "It is also important that committees are comprised of members who fairly represent the diverse demographics of production agriculture for their community. I encourage all producers, including women, minority and beginning farmers and ranchers, to participate in the nomination and election process."

Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated farmers and ranchers serve three-year terms on FSA county committees, which consist of three to 11 members and meet once a month, or as needed.

Producers can nominate themselves or others. Organizations may also nominate candidates. To be eligible to serve on a FSA county committee, producers must participate or cooperate in a FSA program and reside in the area where the election is held. This year, nominations and elections for Carter County will be held in local administrative area 2.

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 http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections or from the Carter County FSA office. All nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by August 1. Visit http://www.farmers.gov for more information.

Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters beginning November 5.