USDA county panel election deadline Dec. 1

PRESQUE ISLE – USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Aroostook County reminds farmers, ranchers and other eligible voters to cast ballots in local FSA county committee elections before Monday’s deadline.

Ballots were mailed to eligible voters earlier this month. Eligible producers who did not receive ballots should contact their local FSA offices immediately.

Ballots must be returned to FSA offices or postmarked by Monday, Dec. 1. Elections may be challenged by nominees within 15 days after the results of an election are posted. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office Jan. 1, 2009.

FSA committee members play an important role in their communities by making decisions on commodity price support loans and payments; conservation and disaster programs; and other important issues.

Every committee has three to five elected members. More than 8,000 county committee members serve in more than 2,300 FSA offices nationwide. This year, approximately one-third of those seats are up for election.