The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced it is now accepting nominations for farmers and ranchers to serve on local county committees.
The nominations are for elections that will take place later this year, according to a June 15 news release. The USDA's Farm Service Agency has introduced a new GIS tool to simplify the nomination and election processes for county committee members. These members make important decisions regarding the administration of federal farm programs at the local level.
“Producers serving on FSA county committees play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of the agency, and they serve as the eyes and ears for the producers who elected them,” USDA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux said in the release. “In order for county committees to be both effective and equitable in their decision-making at the local level, they must reflect the full diversity of American agriculture."
For the 2023 election, all nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, the release reported. The elections will occur in specific Local Administrative Areas (LAA), which are elective areas for FSA committees within a single county or multi-county jurisdiction.
The new GIS locator tool allows customers to find their respective LAA easily, according to the release. This tool was developed based on feedback from stakeholders, including the USDA Equity Commission, to enhance producer participation in the nomination and election processes.
Producers can be nominated for the county committee if they participate or cooperate in a USDA program and reside in the LAA up for election this year, the release said. Self-nominations, nominations by others and nominations from qualifying organizations are accepted.
The USDA encourages minority producers, women and beginning farmers or ranchers to nominate, vote and hold office, the release reported. The FSA county committees, comprising dedicated members of the agricultural community, play a vital role in carrying out disaster programs, conservation efforts, commodity and price support programs and other agricultural matters at the county level.
The county committees, composed of dedicated members from the agricultural community, play a pivotal role in executing disaster programs, promoting conservation efforts, implementing commodity and price support programs and addressing other agricultural concerns at the county level, the release said. By nominating and electing capable individuals, producers can directly influence decisions that impact their farms, ranches and livelihoods.
