FRESNO, TULARE COUNTY – Local producers now have the opportunity to help lead their region, and take part in decisions to facilitate federal programs at the local level.
On June 16, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that nominations are now open for Farm Service Agency county committees. According to the USDA website, county committees are a pillar of daily FSA operations, allowing for “grassroots” input and local administration of federal programs.
Committee members play an important role in how the FSA deals with matters such as disaster recovery, conservation, commodity and price support programs, county office employment and more.
“Local voices matter, and agricultural producers play an important role in shaping how federal farm programs serve their communities,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam in a press release. “With nominations now open for FSA county committees, producers have an opportunity to put Farmers First by ensuring local farmers and ranchers have a voice in program delivery.”
Elections for committee members will take place in certain local administrative areas (LAAs), which the USDA describes as committee elective areas in a single or multi-county jurisdiction. This also includes LAAs which are more focused on urban and suburban areas.
Agricultural producers may be nominated if their LAA is up for election, and if they’ve cooperated or participated in a USDA program. Cooperating producers are those who have provided information on their farming or ranching operation to FSA, even if they have not applied for or received program benefits.
Individuals may nominate themselves or others, and qualifying organizations may also nominate candidates. Committees are made of three to 11 members, and more than 7,700 members serve on county committees nationwide.
All nomination forms must be postmarked or received by local USDA service centers before Aug. 3, and election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters in November 2026. Elections for the county committees are held annually, with members serving three-year terms.
To be considered, producers must sign a FSA-669A form which can be found on the FSA website. The site also provides tools for producers to find their local service centers and LAAs.
