FSA Scoop: County committee nominations underway

The county committee nomination period began on June 14. Nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the Perkins County FSA office by close of business on Thursday, Aug. 1.

For election purposes, counties are divided into local administrative areas (LAAs). Each LAA nominates and elects one producer to serve a three-year term on the FSA county committee.

Each year, an election is held in an LAA where a committee member’s three-year term is expiring. For 2019, an election will be held in LAA 2, which includes the central portion of the county including:  Township 12 Range 37; Township 11 Ranges 37, 38, and 39; Township 10 Range 38 and 39; and Township 9 Range 38 and 39. 

Farmers and ranchers in LAA 2 are urged to participate in this year’s county committee elections by nominating candidates by the Aug. 1 deadline.

County committees are unique to FSA and allow producers to have a voice on federal farm program implementation at the local level.

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 LAA in which the person is a candidate.

Farmers and ranchers may nominate themselves or others. Organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates. 

To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections is available at fsa.usda.gov/elections. 

Nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the local USDA service center by close of business on Aug. 1.

Nationwide, there are approximately 7,800 farmers and ranchers serving on FSA county committees. 

These individuals make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs and other agricultural issues. 

Committees consist of three to 11 members who are elected by eligible producers.

Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in this meeting should contact me at 308-352-4747, ext. 2, or Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339.

Foreign Buyers Notification 

The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) requires all foreign owners of U.S. agricultural land to report their holdings to the Secretary of Agriculture. FSA administers this program for USDA. 

All individuals who are not U.S. citizens, and have purchased or sold agricultural land in the county are required to report the transaction to FSA with 90 days of the closing. 

Failure to submit the AFIDA form (FSA-153) could result in civil penalties of up to 25 percent of the fair market value of the property. 

County government offices, Realtors, attorneys and others involved in real estate transactions are reminded to notify foreign investors of these reporting requirements. 

 

The Grant Tribune-Sentinel

308-352-4311 (Phone)

PO Box 67
327 Central Ave in Grant
Grant NE 69140