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GRAHAM AND GREENLEE COUNTIES – Farmers and ranchers have until Aug. 2, 2021, to nominate candidates to serve on the Graham/Greenlee County Farm Service Agency (FSA) Committee. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) accepts nominations each year in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAAs) for individuals to serve on these locally-led committees.
“The Aug. 2 deadline is quickly approaching,” said Jeanette Morgan, executive director for FSA in Graham/Greenlee County. “Committee members play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of the agency and are vital to how FSA carries out disaster programs, as well as conservation, commodity, and price support programs. This is your opportunity to have a say in how federal programs are delivered in our county.”
This year, Graham/Greenlee County is accepting nominations for LAA 1, which represents all cropland west of 20th Avenue to the Apache Reservation/Graham County boundaries, and includes all rangeland north of Swift Trail and HWY 266, and LAA 3 with represents all rangeland in Greenlee County, along with the Graham County’s rangeland north of the Gila River and the rangeland south/southeast, east of HWY 191. Agricultural producers who participate or cooperate in a USDA program, and reside in the LAA’s up for election this year, may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee. A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation to FSA, even if they have not applied or received program benefits.
Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agricultural community serve on FSA county committees. The committees are made up of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. Individuals may nominate themselves or others and qualifying organizations may also nominate candidates. USDA encourages minority producers, women, and beginning farmers or ranchers to nominate, vote, and hold office.
Producers should contact the Graham/ Greenlee County FSA office how to get involved. To be considered, a producer must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at fsa.usda.gov/elections.
Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters beginning Nov. 1, 2021.
