U.S. Department of Agriculture in Georgia to Host Webinar on Upcoming Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections

Contact: Jay Ivey
Jay.Ivey@usda.gov
706-510-5318

ATHENS, Ga., June 17, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) invites Georgia agricultural producers and stakeholders to attend an informational webinar on County Committee nominations and elections. FSA State Executive Director Arthur Tripp and FSA staff will provide an overview and take questions regarding the FSA’s upcoming County Committee nominations and election cycle. The virtual meeting is free and open to the public and will take place on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Those who plan to attend should email GAOutreach@usda.gov to request the webinar link.   

“FSA County Committees provide an opportunity for producers to play a meaningful role in the delivery of our agency’s federal farm programs,” said Tripp. “Through this webinar, we will equip Georgia’s farmers and ranchers with the information and tools they need to understand the role of County Committee members and the nomination and election process.” 

FSA County Committees are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA and allow grassroots input and administration of federal farm programs in local farming communities. Farmers and ranchers who are elected to serve on FSA County Committees use their judgment and knowledge to help with the decisions necessary to administer FSA programs in their counties, ensuring the needs of local producers are met. FSA County Committees operate within official federal regulations and provide local input on: 

• Income safety-net loans and payments, including setting county average yields for commodities;
• Conservation programs;
• Incentive, indemnity, and disaster payments for some commodities;
• Emergency programs; and
• Payment eligibility.

All agricultural producers are encouraged to participate in FSA County Committee elections – whether a beginning or established producer or whether a large or small operation – because FSA County Committees are producers’ link with the USDA. Agricultural producers may be nominated for candidacy for the County Committee if they:

• Participate or cooperate in a USDA program; and
• Reside in the Local Administrative Area (LAA) that is up for election this year. 

FSA County Committee nominations are due August 1, 2024. Nomination forms can be requested from your local FSA Service Center or obtained online at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters starting November 4, 2024, and are due to your local FSA Service Center by December 2, 2024. For more information on FSA County Committee eligibility and the election process, contact your local USDA Service Center. 

Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to participate in the webinar on June 26 should contact Haylie Haynes at (706) 552-2506 or dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunication relay services. 

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.