The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency starts accepting nominations for county committee members on June 15. Nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1.
Elections will take place in certain local administrative areas, and ballots will be mailed to eligible voters starting Nov. 2.
According to a news release, qualifications for a committee member include being an agriculture producer who participates in an FSA program, and residency in the administrative area that is up for election this year. Candidates may be nominated by themselves, others or organizations.
“There’s an increasing need for diverse representation, including underserved producers, which includes beginning, women and minority farmers and ranchers,” FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce said in the release.
Committee members assist with programs for disaster, conservation and commodity and price support, as well as county office employment and other agricultural issues.
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Committees are made up of three to 11 members and meet once a month. Members serve three-year terms.
Contact your local FSA office to get involved with county elections or your local USDA service center to ask if your area is up for election.
Candidates must sign a FSA-669A form, which is available alongside other information at FSA's website at fsa.usda.gov .
