Tribal Members Encouraged to Nominate and Vote on FSA seats

[NaepcA1]

USDA Encourages American Indian Tribal Members to Nominate and Vote in Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections
WASHINGTON, June X, 2011 – USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) acting Administrator Bruce Nelson today announced that FSA and the USDA Office of Tribal Relations are continuing their efforts to reach out to American Indian tribal members who take part in FSA programs, hold agricultural land and who meet other eligibility requirements to participate in the FSA County Committee nomination and election process.
“FSA and the USDA Office of Tribal Relations are committed to working together to ensure that every eligible producer participates in these elections because FSA county committees are a vital link between the agricultural community and USDA,” said acting FSA Administrator Bruce Nelson.
This endeavor is one of many courses of action that FSA is taking to effectively and fairly deliver programs and services to American Indians and all eligible program participants. By nominating eligible candidates by the August 1 deadline, tribal members will have an opportunity to have their opinions and ideas heard on agricultural-related issues that affect them.
“There’s a growing awareness in Indian country about the importance of having a voice on how decisions and policies are made on FSA programs, such as disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs and other agricultural issues that affect them,” said USDA senior advisor for Tribal Affairs Janie Hipp. “Full participation by tribal members in the FSA County Committee process is a significant step in weighing in on the issues that are important to them.”
County committee nominations began on Wed., June 15, and continue through Aug. 1, 2011. To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area in which the person is a candidate.
Farmers and ranchers may nominate themselves or others, and organizations representing minorities and women may also nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign the nomination form, FSA-669A. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. Nomination forms for the 2011 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 1, 2011. Elections will take place this fall.
Members serve three-year terms. Nationwide, there are about 7,800 farmers and ranchers serving on FSA county committees. Committees consist of three to 11 members that are elected by eligible producers.
FSA will mail ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 4. The voted ballots are due back to the local county office either via mail or in person by Dec. 5. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office on Jan. 2, 2012.
NOTE: FSA news releases and media advisories are available on the Web at http://www.fsa.usda.gov.
Isabel M. Benemelis
Public Affairs Specialist
Office of External Affairs
USDA - Farm Service Agency
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Room 3627-S
Washington, D.C. 20250-0518
Tel: (202) 720-7809
Fax: (202) 720-2979
E-mail: isabel.benemelis@wdc.usda.gov