County Elections Underway

November 3, 2006 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced that the 2006 Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections start today, Nov. 3, 2006. The deadline for eligible voters to return ballots to their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office is Dec. 4, 2006.

"The county committee system allows producers to make important decisions concerning the local administration of federal farm programs," said Johanns. "I urge all eligible farmers and ranchers to get involved and vote in this year's elections."

To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in FSA programs. Eligible voters who do not receive ballots in the coming week can obtain ballots at their local U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center. Dec. 4, 2006, is the last day for voters to submit ballots in person to local service centers. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Dec. 4. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office Jan. 1, 2007.

Close to 8,000 FSA 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.

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