WASHINGTON, D.C. — Farmers have until Dec. 3 to return ballots to local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office for county committee elections, a nationwide process. The election process began Nov. 2.

The FSA said the election of responsible agricultural producers to county committees is important to all farmers and ranchers, whether they have a large or small operation. They hope every producer will take part in this election because county committees are a direct link between the farm community and the USDA.

Committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA, helping to deliver farm programs at the local level. Farmers who serve on committees help decide the kind of programs their counties will offer and work to make FSA agricultural programs serve the needs of local producers.

Committee members apply their knowledge and judgment to make decisions on disaster and conservation payments, establishment of allotments and yields, producer appeals, employing FSA county executive directors and other local issues. FSA committees operate within official regulations designed to carry out federal laws, providing local input on commodity price support and loan payments; conservation programs incentive, indemnity and disaster payments for some commodities; and emergency programs.

To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in FSA programs. A person who is not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm, can also vote.

Eligible voters who have not received ballots can obtain them at their local FSA office, and Dec. 3 is the last day to submit completed ballots in person to the FSA or to postmark those being mailed. Newly-elected committee members and alternates take office Jan. 1, 2008.

Nominations for county committee positions were accepted over the summer from June 15-Aug. 1. To be eligible, nominees must participate in an FSA-administered program, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area for which they are a candidate – although in special cases this requirement may be waived.

In cases where no valid nominations are filed, the secretary of agriculture may nominate up to two individuals to be placed on the ballot. A committee must also conduct an annual review of local administrative boundaries to ensure fair representation of minority and women producers in their jurisdiction. FSA county offices are also charged with actively recruiting eligible candidates identified as minority and women farmers and ranchers, as potential nominees for county committee elections.

Nearly 8,000 county committee members meet monthly at more than 2,300 FSA offices nationwide. Each committee consists of three to five members who serve three-year terms. Approximately one-third of county committee seats are up for election annually. For more information about FSA county committees and FSA programs, visit www.fsa.usda.gov online.