Bates
County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced
that county committee election nominations begin June 17, 2013.
Farmers, ranchers and landowners are encouraged to nominate farmer
and rancher candidates to serve on their local FSA county committee
by the August 1, 2013, deadline.
Elected
county committee members serve a three-year term and are responsible
for making decisions on FSA disaster, conservation, commodity, and
price support programs, as well as other important federal farm
program issues. County
Committees are unique to FSA and are a valuable resource that gives
locally elected farmers and ranchers who participate in FSA programs
the opportunity to impact farm programs at the local level. In order
to have fair representation of the demographics and agricultural
interests in the community, We encourage all producers, including
women, minority and beginning farmers and ranchers to participate in
the nomination and election process
Producers
may nominate themselves or others as candidates. Organizations that
represent minority and women farmers and ranchers may also nominate
candidates. Nominees must participate in a program administered by
FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in
the local administrative area (LAA) in which the person is a
candidate. LAA-2
encompasses the Bates County townships of Deer Creek, Grand, Mingo,
Mound, Shawnee, Spruce, Summit, Deep Water.
To become a nominee, eligible individuals must sign form FSA-669A.
The form and more information about county committee elections are
available online at: www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.
The
Bates County committees are comprised of three members elected by
local producers. Newly elected county committee members will take
office January 1, 2014. The current seat is presently held by Paul
Cumpton who has severed his time limit of 9 years. The Bates County
office wishes to thank Paul Cumpton for his many years of service.
Nomination
forms must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center
by close of business on August 1, 2013.
