FSA County Committee Nomination Period Underway

The Thayer County Farm Service Agency is currently accepting nominations for this year’s County Committee Election. “Producers who are eligible voters are asked to nominate candidates of their choice by August 1, 2012, for the county Farm Service Agency (FSA) committee election ballot,” said County Executive Director Jay VanWesten.
This year’s FSA county committee election will be conducted in LAA No. 2 from November 5 to December 3, 2012, by mail ballot. Thayer County producers from this area have the opportunity to nominate persons they feel would best serve their farm community on the FSA county committee. Producers from LAA No. 2 are encouraged to petition for individuals they feel would do a good job as a FSA committee member. “FSA committees are essential in the administration of farm programs,” Mr. VanWesten said, “and we welcome all valid petitions.”
To be eligible to serve on a Farm Service Agency 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 local administrative area in which the person is a candidate. Producers may nominate themselves or others and organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign the nomination form FSA-669A. The form and other valuable information about FSA county committee elections are available online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections or you may visit your local FSA office to obtain a copy. Nomination forms for the 2012 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by close of business on August 1.
FSA county committee members make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs and other important agricultural issues. Members serve three-year terms. Nationwide, there are about 7,800 farmers and ranchers serving on FSA county committees. In Nebraska, committees consist of three to 11 members who are elected by eligible producers.
Anyone wishing to nominate a producer for the county FSA committee election may contact the county office for details, including eligibility requirements.- The opportunity to nominate, vote, and be elected to office is guaranteed to a producers regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status or disability.