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Farm Service Agency Begins County Committee Elections

Wisconsin Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Sandy Chalmers announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began mailing ballots to eligible agricultural producers for the 2018 FSA county committee elections. Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by Dec. 3, to ensure their vote is counted.

“County committee members represent the farmers, ranchers and foresters in our Wisconsin communities,” Chalmers said. “Producers elected to these committees have always played a vital role in local agricultural decisions.”

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. County committee members apply their knowledge and judgment to help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support programs; conservation programs; indemnity and disaster programs; emergency programs and eligibility.

Chalmers said producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. Farmers and ranchers who supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm, but are not of legal voting age, may also be eligible to vote.

Voters who did not receive a ballot can pick one up at their local FSA office. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Dec. 3, 2018. Newly elected committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2019.

For more information visit fsa.usda.gov/elections.

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