Beech Tree News Network

(Morgantown, KY), July 8, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages America’s farmers and ranchers to nominate candidates to lead, serve and represent their community on their local county committee. According to USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) Butler County Executive Director Kay Barton, FSA began accepting nominations for county committee members on Monday, June 15, 2020.

Producers across the country are already serving on committees where they play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of FSA, making important decisions on programs dealing with disaster and conservation, emergencies, commodity loan price support, county office employment and other agricultural issues.

“County committees are unique to FSA and allow producers to have a voice on federal farm program implementation at the local level,” said Barton. “It is also important that committees are comprised of members who fairly represent the diverse demographics of production agriculture for their community. I encourage all producers, including women, minority and beginning farmers and ranchers, to participate in the nomination and election process.”

Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated farmers and ranchers serve on FSA county committees, which consist of three to 11 members and meet once a month, or as needed. Members serve three-year terms.

Producers can nominate themselves or others. Organizations, including those representing beginning, women and minority producers, may also nominate candidates to better serve their communities. To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program and reside in the area where the election is being held.

This year, nominations and elections for Butler County will be held in local administrative area 3 (LAA),  All farms located in the area which includes the communities of Reedyville, Roundhill, Welches Creek, Dexterville, Gilstrap, Brooklyn, Jetson, Neafus, Monford, Banock and Millshed. A map is in the county office with the LAA’s clearly identified.

 To be considered, a producer must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections, or from the Butler County FSA office. All nomination forms for the 2018 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2020. Visit farmers.gov for more information.

Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters beginning Nov. 2, 2020. Read more to learn about important election dates.

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