The FSA Moore County Committee election is under way.

The Farm Service Agency, a unit of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is mailing ballots to eligible voters, according to Aaron Martin, state FSA executive director. The deadline to return ballots to the Moore-Montgomery FSA office in Carthage is Monday, Dec. 6.

"All eligible farmers and ranchers can make a difference by voting in this year's county committee elections," Martin said. "County committee members will provide input and make important decisions on the local administration of new disaster and conservation programs under the 2008 Farm Bill.

"I particularly encourage minority and women producers to get involved so that county committees fairly represent the producers of a county or multi-county jurisdiction."

Martin said county committee members are an important component of FSA operations and provide a link between the agricultural community and USDA. Farmers and ranchers elected to these committees help to deliver FSA programs at the local level, applying knowledge and judgment to decisions on commodity price support loans and payments, conservation programs, incentive indemnity and disaster payments for some commodities, emergency programs and payment eligibility.

FSA committees operate within official regulations designed to implement federal laws.

To be eligible voters, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program. A person who is not of legal voting age but who supervises and conducts farming operations of an entire farm may be eligible to vote, according to Martin.

Agricultural producers in each county submitted candidate nominations during the nomination period ending Aug. 2.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.