LIHU‘E — The United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency is accepting nomination forms for eligible candidates to serve on the Kaua‘i County Farm Service Agency County Committee. The nomination period runs through Aug. 1, according to a USDA
LIHU‘E — The United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency is accepting nomination forms for eligible candidates to serve on the Kaua‘i County Farm Service Agency County Committee. The nomination period runs through Aug. 1, according to a USDA press release.
This year, Local Administrative Area 1 will be electing a representative to the committee. LAA 1 consists of all ranchers and farmers located in the Tax Map Key District areas of: Ni‘ihau, Waimea, Koloa, and up to Lihu‘e. This Tax Map Key Districts is identified as (4)-1’s, (4)-2’s, and (4)-3’s).
The USDA is saying if your farm is located in one of these areas, you may be an eligible candidate or voter. Contact the USDA Kaua‘i County FSA Office if you would like to be added to the slate of candidates or confirm your voting eligibility.
Any eligible farmer or rancher may request a ballot from FSA if they don’t receive one in the mail. If you would like to be added to the slate of nominees your nomination form (FSA-669A) must be received or postmarked by August 1.
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 in which the person is a candidate.
Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters by Nov. 4. Ballots must be returned or post marked to the USDA Kaua‘i County FSA Office by Dec. 12.
Follow the voting instructions carefully. Only signed ballots will be counted.
The FSA County Committee is an important link between national USDA programs and local farmers. As part of the Committee, members will make important decisions on the needs of local farm programs.
FSA County Committees have a vital role in decision-making for conservation and disaster programs, commodity price support loans and payments, and other important agricultural issues in their farming community, according to the release.
Farm owners, operators, tenants and sharecroppers of legal voting age who farm or ranch in the LAA and are eligible to participate in FSA programs may be a candidate and vote for the committee.
Individuals may nominate themselves or others. Elections are open to all eligible candidates and voters without regard to race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, or political beliefs.
FSA is committed to diversity on committees and encourages the participation of minority, female, beginning farmer or rancher or other under-represented and underserved producers.
Go to www.fsa.usda.gov for more information or call the USDA Kaua‘i FSA office at 245-9014, ext. 104.
