FSA County Committee Ballots Due Dec. 2

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mailed ballots last week for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections to all eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the country. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for these committee members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally.  Producers and landowners must return ballots to their local FSA county office or have their
ballots postmarked by Dec. 2, 2024, for those ballots to be counted.      

Rules

Producers must participate or cooperate in a USDA program and reside in the LAA that is up for
election this year to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. A cooperating
producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation
to FSA, even if they have not applied or received program benefits. Additionally, producers who
are not of legal voting age, but supervise and conduct farming operations for an entire
farm, are eligible to vote in these elections.       

For purposes of FSA county committee elections, every member of an American Indian tribe is
considered an agricultural landowner if the land on which the tribal member’s voting eligibility
is based is tribally owned or held in trust by the U.S. for the tribe, even if the individual does not
personally produce a commodity on that land. Tribal agricultural landowners 18 years and older
can contact their local FSA county office to register to vote.  

Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agricultural community serve on FSA
county committees. Each committee has from three to 11 elected members who serve three-
year terms, and at least one seat representing a LAA up for election each year.

Ballots must be postmarked or delivered in person to the local FSA office by close of business
Dec. 2, 2024, to be counted. Newly elected committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2025.
Producers can identify LAAs up for election through a geographic information system locator
tool available at fsa.usda.gov/elections and may confirm their LAA by contacting their local FSA
office. Eligible voters who do not receive a ballot in the mail can request one from their local
FSA county office. 

Urban County Committees     

Urban county committees have been established in 27 cities to strengthen administration of
FSA programs in urban areas. Urban committee members are nominated and elected to serve
by local urban producers in the same jurisdiction. Committee members will provide outreach to
ensure urban producers understand USDA programs, serve as the voice of other urban
producers and assist in program implementation that support the needs of the growing urban
community.