The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency encourages all farmers, ranchers and FSA program participants to participate in the Jackson County committee election nomination process.

County committees are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of the agency and allow grassroots input and local administration of federal farm programs, according to a news release from the county office.

Committees are comprised of locally elected agricultural producers responsible for the fair and equitable administration of agency programs in their counties. Committee members are accountable to the secretary of agriculture. If elected, members become part of a local decision-making and farm program delivery process.

The Jackson County FSA committee is composed of three elected members from local administrative areas. Local Administrative Area 2, composed of Hamilton, Jackson, Redding and Vernon townships, will be conducting an election this year.

Each member serves a three-year term, and one seat on the committee is open for election each year. County committees may have one or more appointed advisers to further represent the local interests of underserved farmers and ranchers.

Underserved producers are beginning, women and other minority farmers and ranchers and land owners and/or operators who have limited resources. Other minority groups, including Native American and Alaska natives, people under the poverty level and persons that have disabilities, also are considered underserved.

Nomination forms for the election must be postmarked or received in the local service center by Aug. 1.

For information, refer to the Farm Service Agency fact sheet: eligibility to Vote and Hold Office as a COC Member available online at fsa.usda.gov/elections.