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Farmers, ranchers and
other agricultural producers are reminded that they
have until this Friday, Jan. 17, 2014, to return
completed ballots to FSA. Eligible voters who have
not received a ballot can obtain one from their
local USDA Service Center. The last day for voters
to submit completed ballots in person to local USDA
Service Centers is Jan. 17, 2014. Ballots returned
by mail must be postmarked no later than Jan. 17.
County committee members
are an important component of the operations of FSA
and provide a link between the agricultural
community and USDA. Farmers and ranchers elected to
county committees help deliver FSA programs at the
local level, applying their knowledge and judgment
to make decisions on commodity price support
programs; conservation programs; incentive indemnity
and disaster programs for some commodities;
emergency programs and eligibility. FSA committees
operate within official regulations designed to
carry out federal laws.
To be an eligible
voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or
cooperate in an FSA program. A person who is not of
legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the
farming operations of an entire farm may also be
eligible to vote. Agricultural producers in each
county submitted candidate nominations during the
nomination period, which ended on Aug. 1.
Close to 7,700 FSA
county committee members serve in the 2,124 FSA
offices nationwide. Each committee consists of three
to 11 members who serve three-year terms.
Approximately one-third of county committee seats
are up for election each year. More information on
county committees, such as the 2013 fact sheet and
brochures, can be found on the FSA website at
www.fsa.usda.gov/elections
or at a local USDA Service Center. |
