The deadline to submit ballots for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) 2016 County Committee Elections has been extended to ensure farmers and ranchers have sufficient time to vote. Eligible voters now have until December 13, 2016 to return ballots to their local FSA offices. Producers in local administrative area 1, 4, 6 or 9 who have not received their ballot should pick one up at the Nacogdoches Service Center located at 1122 N University DR STE R, or phone 936-564-5891 extension 2.

 

FSA has modified the ballot, making it easily identifiable and less likely to be overlooked. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than December 13, 2016. Newly elected committee members will take office January 1, 2017.

 

Nearly 7,700 FSA County Committee members serve FSA offices nationwide. Each committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office. One-third of County Committee seats are up for election each year. County Committee members apply their knowledge and judgment to help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support, conservation, indemnity, disaster and emergency programs.

 

Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the County Committee election. Approximately 1.5 million producers are currently eligible to vote. Farmers and ranchers who supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm, but are not of legal voting age, also may be eligible to vote.

 

For more information, visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections or contact the Nacogdoches Service Center office at 936-564-5891.