FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 14, 2010
For more information contact:
Bill Clary
(502) 564-1137

NOMINATIONS FOR FSA COMMITTEES OPEN JUNE 15

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The U.S. Farm Service Agency will begin accepting nominations of farmers and ranchers for county committees on Tuesday, June 15, Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer has announced.

Nominations must be postmarked or received in a local U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center by Aug. 2. FSA will mail ballots to eligible voters on Nov. 5. Ballots will be due back to the county office by Dec. 6. Newly elected committee members and alternates will take office Jan. 1, 2011.

 “The county committees are a vital link between the farmer and the federal government,” Commissioner Farmer said. “I encourage all Kentucky farmers to get involved in the county committee process.”

To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area in which he or she is a candidate. Eligible persons may nominate themselves or others, and organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates.

FSA county committee members make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs and other agricultural issues. Members serve three-year terms. About 7,800 farmers and ranchers serve on county committees nationwide.

For more information about county committee elections, go to www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.

 

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