County committee balloting continues

Completed ballots for the Lampasas/Burnet County Farm Service Agency county committee must be postmarked by midnight on Dec. 3.

Nominees for the committee are Kevin Churchwell, Keving Herring and Robert Pryor. Those elected will represent LAA #3 north of Texas Highway 29 in Burnet County.

County committees make decisions about commodity loans and payments, allotments, yields, marketing quotas and eligibility for conservation programs and disaster assistance, said Mark Tays, executive director for the Lampasas/ Burnet County FSA.

"This committee is the producer's voice in making national programs fit local situations -- representing the customers for the individuals USDA programs are designed to serve," Tays said.

The county committee system only works well if all FSA customers are actively involved in how the agency's programs are administered, Tays said. County committees need diverse representation, he said, including small and large farm and ranch operators, truck farmers, specialty crop producers, livestock producers and businessmen and women.

"Diversity is a must in today's changing world of agriculture -- from people on the business side of the operation to those who plant for specific markets," Tays said. "The county committee should represent the demographics of the communities they serve."

Those eligible to participate in FSA programs are eligible to vote and to serve on the county committee. In Texas, the spouse of an eligible voter also is eligible to vote, and a person under the legal age can cast a ballot if he or she operates a farm or ranch.

No person can be denied the right to vote because of race, sex, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, national origin or marital or familial status.

"While we try to send ballots to all eligible voters, we may have missed one or two," Tays said. "Persons who believe they qualify to vote in this election and did not receive a ballot should contact our office."

Tays encouraged all eligible voters to participate in the election.

"It is crucial that every eligible voter take part in this election, because county committees are a direct link between the local agriculture community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture," Tays said. "The grassroots committees are comprised of and make decisions for producers and concerned citizens that live and work in the local community."

For more information on county committees and to determine voter eligibility contact the Lampasas/ Burnet County FSA at (512) 715- 8026, or visit the national FSA Web site at www.fsa.usda.gov.