FSA county committee election process begins

The election of responsible agricultural producers to Farm Service Agency county committees is important to ALL farmers and ranchers with large or small operations. It is crucial that every eligible producer take part in this election because county committees are a direct link between the farm community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA. They help deliver FSA farm programs at the local level. Farmers who serve on committees help decide the kind of programs their counties will offer. They work to make FSA agricultural programs serve the needs of local producers.

?Committee members provide local input on commodity price support loans and payments, conservation programs, incentive, indemnity and disaster payments for some commodities, and Emergency programs,? said Gordon Wade, member of the Warren County FSA Committee.

The County Committees operate within official regulations designed to carry out federal laws. ?Committee members apply their judgment and knowledge to make local decisions,? Wade said.

To ensure fair and equal representation on county committees, FSA actively seeks members of socially disadvantaged groups as nominees for the county committee election. Information is made available to local producers, including informational meetings, local newspapers, radio, and county newsletters published by the local offices.

?Socially disadvantaged group means a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities,? said Wade.

This year?s election will be held in Local Administrative Area (LAA) No. 3. This area is currently represented by Wade.

LAA No. 3 includes the area of Warren County beginning at Highway 55 at Morrison and going northward to Centertown, and on to an line west of Green Hill in the north end of the county. Jacksboro, Centertown, Blues Hill, Vinson?s Crossroads, and Lucky communities are included in LAA No. 3.

Nomination forms will be available beginning June 15th for persons to nominate someone to serve on the County Committee. Nominations will be accepted until Aug. 1. To become a nominee, eligible individuals must sign the nomination form which includes a statement that the nominee agrees to serve if elected. This form will be available at the local FSA county service center, and may also be obtained by internet at http://www.fsa.usda.gov under News and Events/County Committee elections.