The Farm Service Agency will begin accepting nominations for county committee positions between June 15 and August 1. Farm Service Agency county committees serve as an important link between local agricultural producers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition to serving as a general link between local and federal agricultural programs and agencies, the county committees control the distribution of funds, deliver FSA services, and decide what kind of agricultural programs will be offered at the local level.

Given the importance of this role, it is vital to encourage as much participation in nominations and elections as possible. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is urging all farmer and agricultural producers to take part in the election process by nominating themselves or other qualified farmers.

In addition, Vilsack is urging women and minority farmers to get involved in the process. Partly due to the bad press the USDA has received in the wake of discrimination lawsuits, Vilsack has made an effort to diversify the USDA and agricultural production in general. Diversifying the FSA and increasing the number of minority farmers sitting in county committees will, Vilsack hopes, help create a more divers and representative agricultural industry.

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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer