{"id":119767,"date":"2021-11-09T13:32:51","date_gmt":"2021-11-09T18:32:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=119767"},"modified":"2021-11-09T13:32:51","modified_gmt":"2021-11-09T18:32:51","slug":"2021-farm-service-agency-county-committee-elections-underway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=119767","title":{"rendered":"2021 Farm Service Agency county committee elections underway"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ballots to\u00a0be mailed to\u00a0eligible voters\u00a0beginning this week<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin mailing ballots this week for the Farm Service Agency county and urban county committee elections to all eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the country. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative Areas for these committee members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. To be counted, producers and landowners must return ballots to their local FSA county office or be postmarked by Dec. 6, 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow is your opportunity to elect fellow farmers and ranchers in your community to serve on the local county committee,\u201d said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. \u201cThese committees are a critical piece to the work we do by providing knowledge and judgment as decisions are made about the services we provide. Your voice and vote matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation but may not have applied or received FSA program benefits. Also, for County Committee elections, producers who are not of legal voting age, but supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm, are eligible to vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Producers can find out if their LAA is up for election and if they are eligible to vote by contacting their local FSA county office. Eligible voters who do not receive a ballot in the mail can request one from their local FSA county office. To find your local USDA Service Center, visit farmers.gov\/service-locator<\/a>. Visit fsa.usda.gov\/elections<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Committees<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each committee has from three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office, and at least one seat representing an LAA is up for election each year. Newly elected committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Urban and Suburban County Committees<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ballots to elect urban committee members were sent beginning Nov. 1, 2021. These elections will serve local urban producers in the same jurisdiction. A fact sheet on the urban county committee election and a list of eligible cities can be found at fsa.usda.gov\/elections<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2018 Farm Bill directed USDA to form urban county committees as well as make other advancements related to urban agriculture, including the establishment of the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. Urban county committees will work to encourage and promote urban, indoor and other emerging agricultural production practices. Committee members will provide outreach to ensure urban producers understand USDA programs and serve as the voice of other urban producers. Additionally, the new county committees may address areas such as food access, community engagement, support of local activities to promote and encourage community compost and food waste reduction. Learn more at farmers.gov\/urban<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

USDA Builds Pandemic Support for Certified Organic and Transitioning Operations<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide pandemic assistance to cover certification and education expenses to agricultural producers who are certified organic or transitioning to organic. USDA will make $20 million available through the new Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program<\/a> as part of USDA\u2019s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative<\/a>, which provides new, broader and more equitable opportunities for farmers, ranchers and producers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the COVID-19 pandemic, certified organic and transitional operations faced challenges due to loss of markets, and increased costs and labor shortages, in addition to costs related to obtaining or renewing their organic certification, which producers and handlers of conventionally grown commodities do not incur. Transitional operations also faced the financial challenge of implementing practices required to obtain organic certification without being able to obtain the premium prices normally received for certified organic commodities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProducers and handlers of organic commodities incur significant costs to obtain or renew organic certification each year,\u201d said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. \u201cThe economic challenges that arose due to the pandemic made obtaining and renewing organic certification financially challenging for many operations. This is one more instance of USDA continuing to provide support for those who need it most, invest in the food supply chain and Build Back Better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eligible Expenses<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

OTECP funding is provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Certified operations and transitional operations may apply for OTECP for eligible expenses paid during the 2020, 2021 and 2022 fiscal years. For each year, OTECP covers 25 percent of a certified operation\u2019s eligible certification expenses, up to $250 per certification category (crop, livestock, wild crop, handling and State Organic Program fee). This includes application fees, inspection fees, USDA organic certification costs, state organic program fees and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crop and livestock operations transitioning to organic production may be eligible for 75 percent of a transitional operation\u2019s eligible expenses, up to $750, for each year. This includes fees charged by a certifying agent or consultant for pre-certification inspections and development of an organic system plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For both certified operations and transitional operations, OTECP covers 75 percent of the registration fees, up to $200, per year, for educational events that include content related to organic production and handling in order to assist operations in increasing their knowledge of production and marketing practices that can improve their operations, increase resilience and expand available marketing opportunities. Additionally, both certified and transitional operations may be eligible for 75 percent of the expense of soil testing required under the National Organic Program to document micronutrient deficiency, not to exceed $100 per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Applying for Assistance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signup for 2020 and 2021 OTECP will be Nov. 8, 2021, through Jan. 7, 2022. Producers apply through their local Farm Service Agency office and can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling 877-508-8364. Visit farmers.gov\/otecp<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional Organic Support<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OTECP builds upon USDA\u2019s Organic Certification Cost Share Program, which provides cost share assistance of 50 percent, up to a maximum of $500 per scope, to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the NOP. This year\u2019s application period for OCCSP ended Nov. 1, 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, USDA\u2019s Risk Management Agency announced improvements to the Whole-Farm Revenue Program including increasing expansion limits for organic producers to the higher of $500,000 or 35 percent. Previously, small and medium size organic operations were held to the same 35 percent limit to expansion as conventional practice producers. Also, producers can now report acreage as certified organic, or as acreage in transition to organic, when the producer has requested an organic certification by the acreage reporting date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about USDA\u2019s assistance for organic producers, visit usda.gov\/organic<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As USDA looks for long-term solutions to build back a better food system, the Department is committed to delivery of financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers and businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19 market disruptions. Since USDA rolled out the Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative in March, the Department has provided support to America\u2019s farmers and ranchers including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n