Brown County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Cody B Norris, CED, announced that county committee election nominations began on June 17, 2013. Farmers, ranchers and landowners are encouraged to nominate candidates to serve on their local FSA county committee by the August 1, 2013 deadline.

Elected county committee members serve a three-year term and are responsible for making decisions on FSA disaster, conservation, commodity and price support programs, as well as other important federal farm program issues. County committees are comprised of three to 11 members.

“County Committees are unique to FSA and are instrumental in all aspects of federal farm program implementation at the local level,” said Norris.

Producers may nominate themselves or others as candidates. Organizations that represent minority and women farmers and ranchers may also nominate candidates. Nominees must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area (LAA) in which the person is a candidate. To become a nominee, eligible individuals must sign form FSA-669A. The form and more information about county committee elections are available online at:  www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.

“It is important that county committees are comprised of members who fairly represent the diverse demographics of production agriculture for their community,” said Norris. “All producers, including women, minority and beginning farmers and ranchers are encouraged to participate in the nomination and election process.”

Nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on August 1, 2013.

FSA will mail ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 4. The ballots are due back in the local county office by mail or in person no later than Dec. 2. All newly elected county committee members and alternates will take office January 1, 2014.

For more information about county committees, please contact the Brown County FSA office at 325/643-2573 or visit www.fsa.usda.gov.