The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is looking to expand the pool of candidates that will run for a three-year term on the farmer-elected county office committee. FSA needs people to serve, people who want to help, get involved, and work to help other folks in the business of agriculture locally. Agricultural producers who participate or cooperate in an FSA program may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee. Individuals may nominate themselves or others as a candidate. In addition, organizations representing underserved (minority and women) farmers or ranchers may nominate candidates now through August 2, 2021.
The FSA County Committee is the most direct link between USDA farm programs and local producers. The County Committee system helps shape nation-wide programs into programs that work at the local level by making decisions on things like commodity price support loans and payments, establishing yields, and marketing quotas for some crops. Farmers and ranchers who are elected to serve on FSA county committees apply using their judgment and knowledge to help with the decisions necessary to administer FSA programs in their counties, ensuring the needs of local producers are met.
To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the LAA in which the person is a candidate.
To become a nominee for this year’s election, eligible individuals must sign nomination form FSA-669A by August 2, 2021. The form includes a statement that the nominee agrees to serve if elected. Nomination forms are filed in the FSA office that administers a producer’s farm records and is available at the FSA county office or online at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.
Each year, an election is held in a Local Administrative Area (LAA) where a committee member’s three-year term is expiring. For 2021, Clarke County’s election will be held in LAA 3, which is the part of the county that is east of Hwy 145, including communities of Energy, Snell, Middleton, Sykes, Pine Ridge, Linton, Brewer, Crandall, Carmichael, Sels Prairie, Langsdale and more.
Contact the Meridian FSA Office @ 601-483-4100, Ext 2 for more information or a nomination form today if you live in the areas described above and are willing to serve!
