Garrett and Allegany County FSA Committee Nomination Period Underway The nomination period for Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees began June 16th. In Garrett County, the election is for Local Administrative Area (LAA) 1, which covers Oakland, Loch Lynn Heights, and Mt. Lake Park. In Allegany County the election is in LAA 1, which covers Frostburg, Mt. Savage, LaVale, Cresaptown, and Cumberland. To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area where the person is nominated. Farmers and ranchers may nominate themselves or others. Organizations representing minorities, beginning farmers and women also may nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign the nomination form, FSA-669A. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at the Garrett County FSA Office, 1916 Maryland Hwy Ste B, Mt. Lake Park, MD and at the Allegany County FSA Office, 12407 Naves Cross Road NE, Cumberland, MD, and on the web at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. Nomination forms for the 2014 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 1, 2014. Elections will take place this fall. County committees provide a vital link and a voice for landowners and farmers to have opinions and ideas heard at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. While FSA county committees do not approve or deny farm ownership or operating loans, they make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs and other agricultural issues. Members serve three-year terms. Nationwide, there are about 7,800 farmers and ranchers serving on FSA county committees. Committees consist of three to 11 members that are elected by eligible producers. FSA will mail ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 3, 2014. Ballots are due back to the local county office either via mail or in person by Dec. 1, 2014. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office on Jan. 1, 2015. Questions?
Please contact Eric McCartney, County Executive Director, at (301) 334-6956 in Garrett County and (301) 777-1536 in Allegany County, eric.mccartney@md.usda.gov or for Farm Loans, please contact Diane Drabish, Farm Loan Officer, at (301 777-1536, diane.drabish@md.usda.gov. |
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users). |
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