Henrico farmers have until Aug. 2 to submit FSA County Committee nominations

Farmers and ranchers in Henrico, New Kent and Richmond have until Aug. 2, to nominate candidates to serve on the Four Rivers County Farm Service Agency Committee. The U.S. Department of Agriculture accepts nominations each year in certain Local Administrative Areas for candidates to serve on these locally led committees.

"Committee members play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of the agency and are vital to how FSA carries out disaster programs, as well as conservation, commodity and price support programs,” said Monta Worley, executive director for FSA in New Kent and Henrico counties and Richmond Urban LAA 2-3.

Agricultural producers who participate or cooperate in a USDA program, and who reside in the LAA, are up for election this year and may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee. 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.

Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agricultural community serve on FSA county committees. The committees are made up of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. People may nominate themselves or others and qualifying organizations may also nominate candidates. USDA is encouraging minority producers, women and beginning farmers or ranchers to nominate, vote, and hold office.

Producers should contact the Four Rivers County FSA office to learn how to get involved. To be considered, a producer must sign an FSA-669A nomination form or an FSA-669-A-3 for urban county committees. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at fsa.usda.gov/elections.

Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters beginning Nov. 1, 2021.