Nominations needed to select 3-year FSA committee members

Daviess County Farm Service Agency is accepting nominations for candidates to run for the FSA county committee. Nominees should be representative of county farmers and willing to serve a three-year term overseeing the operation of the Farm Service Agency county office.

The Daviess County FSA administers federal agricultural production, farm loan, conservation and emergency programs in the county. A locally elected committee of farmers and landowners, serving staggered, three-year terms, oversees operation of the county office.

“It is important that we ensure that all farmers have an equal opportunity to be a candidate to serve on the county committee,” said Kirby Payne. “Employees in the county office will be taking an active role in contacting producers and farm groups along with leaders of minority, female and under-represented groups to ensure that they fully understand the role of the county committee.”

Individuals of legal voting age with an interest in farmland as an owner, operator, tenant or sharecropper or are eligible to participate in any FSA program, are eligible to vote in the election and are eligible to serve on the committee if nominated and elected. “No person shall be denied the right to vote because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age or disability,” said Payne. Spouses are also eligible to vote and serve on the committee if nominated and elected.

“The locally elected committee shoulders primary responsibility for making national farm programs fit the needs and situations faced by local farmers,” Payne said. “They bring local expertise and knowledge to the daily delivery of programs and services.”

Payne said for a nomination petition to be valid, it must be limited to one nominee, must include written certification that the nominee is willing to serve if elected and must be signed by one eligible voter in the area holding the election this year. Eligible voters may circulate or sign nomination petitions for as many candidates as they choose.

The deadline to return valid nomination petitions to the FSA office is Oct. 28.

Minority and female farmers are encouraged to take part in this important nomination process. For more information, contact the Daviess County FSA office.