Grant County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director CED Joel Foster announced that the nomination period for local FSA county committees began... FSA County Committee Nominations Due By August 1

 

joel_fosterGrant County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director CED Joel Foster announced that the nomination period for local FSA county committees began on June 15, 2016. “County committees are unique to FSA and allow producers to have a voice on federal farm program implementation at the local level,” said CED Foster.

To be eligible to serve on the FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in an agency administered program, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the Local Administrative Area (LAA) where they are nominated.

This year, nominations and elections will be held in LAA 3, which includes Adams, Georgia, Madison, Stockholm, Troy and Vernon townships. Dustin Johnson is the current representative for LAA 3.

Farmers and livestock producers may nominate themselves or others as candidates. Organizations representing minority and women farmers and ranchers may also nominate candidates. To become a nominee, eligible individuals must sign form FSA-669A. The form and more information about county committee elections is available online at:  www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.  2016 nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the Grant County FSA Office by close of business on Aug. 1, 2016.

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. The Grant County FSA Committee currently has three elected members and one adviser.  The elected members are Mark Mueller, Lyle Zirbel and Dustin Johnson, and the adviser is Betty Frogner.

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

FSA will mail election ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 7, 2016. Ballots are due back in the Grant County Office by mail or in person no later than Dec. 5, 2016. All newly elected county committee members and alternates will take office Jan. 1, 2017.

For more information about county committees, please contact the Grant County FSA office at 605-432-6570, ext. 2 or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.

Staff Writer

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