The 2009 Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections are under way, and ballots have been mailed to eligible voters.

Monday is the deadline for eligible voters to return ballots to their local FSA offices.

To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in FSA programs.

A person who is not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm, also can vote. Agricultural producers in each county submitted candidate names during the nomination period held last summer.

Eligible voters who do not receive a ballot in the coming weeks can obtain a ballot at the local USDA Service Center. Ballots must be postmarked by Monday.

Newly elected committee members and alternates take office on Jan. 1.

Close to 8,000 committee members meet monthly at more than 2,300 FSA offices nationwide.

Each committee consists of three to five members who serve three-year terms. Approximately one-third of county committee seats are up for election annually.

For more information about FSA County Committees and additional FSA programs, visit the Web site at www.fsa.usda.gov.