USDA Farm Service Agency

County Committee Elections

USDA Farm Service Agency

Why participate?

USDA Farm Service Agency

FSA County Committees

Exist to help the area’s farmers and ranchers

Help deliver federal programs locally

USDA Farm Service Agency

County Committee RoleCommittees make decisions on:

• Price support loans & payments• Acreage verification• Conservation programs• Incentive, indemnity & disaster payments• Other farm disaster assistance

USDA Farm Service Agency

Committee Basics

• Meet once a month

• 3-5 members

• Members serve 3-year terms

• Advisors appointed to represent women & minority interests

USDA Farm Service Agency

Candidates• Must be a producer participating or cooperating in an FSA-administered program

• Be of legal voting age

• Live in the local administrative area (LAA)

USDA Farm Service Agency

Nominations• Begin June 15• Forms available online or from an FSA office • Nominate yourself or others• Nominee must sign form• Forms submitted/postmarked by August 1

USDA Farm Service Agency

Who Can Vote?

Agricultural producer:

• Of legal voting age; and• Participating/cooperating in FSA programs; or• Person younger than voting age, but supervises and conducts entire farm operation.

USDA Farm Service Agency

Types of Voters

• Individual Voters

• Nonindividual voters

• Spouses in community property states

• American Indian tribal lands members

USDA Farm Service Agency

Types of Voters:

Individual Voters

• Eligible to vote on one’s own right

• Partner in a general partnership

• Member of a joint venture

USDA Farm Service Agency

Types of Voters:

Nonindividual Voters

• Corporation, estate, trust, limited partnership, or other business enterprise

• State, political subdivision of a state, or state agency

USDA Farm Service Agency

Types of Voters

• Spouses in community property states

USDA Farm Service Agency

Types of Voters

Every member of an American Indian tribe is eligible to vote:

• If agricultural land is tribally owned or held in trust for the tribe by the U.S.; and• Meets eligibility requirements.

USDA Farm Service Agency

Voting Limitations

Voters may cast only one vote per county, even if they have:• Separate farms in the county committee jurisdiction; or • Farms in more than one LAA in same county or multi-county jurisdiction

USDA Farm Service Agency

Voting Period

November 2 - December 3, 2007

USDA Farm Service Agency

Minority & Women ProducersUSDA is committed to:

• Increasing women & minority producers on committees

• Increasing the number of women & minority producers who vote

USDA Farm Service Agency

Advisors

• Recommended by county committee or community-based organization

• Appointed by FSA state committee

• Give voice to minority and women producers

USDA Farm Service Agency

For More Information

• Visit your local FSA office or USDA Service Center

• Go online: www.fsa.usda.gov

USDA Farm Service Agency

Election Timeline

• June 15 - Nominations begin• August 1 - Last day to file nomination forms• November 2 - Ballots mailed to voters• December 3 - Last day to return ballots• Jan. 1, 2008 - Elected members take office

USDA Farm Service Agency

County Committee Elections