Nominations open for FSA

Farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers are encouraged to nominate local producers to serve on USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committee (COC).

This year's election will be in Local Administrative Area (LAA) No. 2, which includes Antrim, Washington, Quincy and Guilford townships in Franklin County.

Almost anyone eligible to take part in a local FSA program and of legal voting age may be a candidate for the COC. The following persons are also eligible to participate in the election process: an owner, operator, tenant or sharecropper; a spouse listed on the property deed; the spouse of an eligible voter in a community property state; a partner in a general partnership; a member of a joint venture that has an interest in a farm as an owner, operator, tenant or sharecropper; and someone who is not of legal voting age but who supervises and conducts the farming operations on an entire farm.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others as a candidate.

Farmers who serve on COC's help decide the kind of programs their counties will offer and make sure FSA agricultural programs serve the needs of local producers. Committees make decisions on commodity price support loans and payments, establishment of allotments and yields, conservation programs, and other issues.

Farmers and other eligible voters are asked to nominate candidates of their choice by Aug 1.

Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters by Nov. 2, 2007, with the deadline to have ballots returned to FSA set for Dec. 3, 2007.

Elected committee members and alternates take office on Jan. 1, 2008.

Nominating forms can be obtained at local FSA offices or USDA Service Centers or online a t : www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_ File/fsa0669a.pdf

Details on FSA COC elections can be found in a fact sheet online a t : www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_ File/cocelection07.pdf

The following local farmers are currently serving on the 2007 Franklin County Committee: Dennis Brechbill - Chairperson; Micah Meyers - Vice Chairperson; P. Joseph Musser - Regular Member; Clare Heebner - Advisor.