The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots on November 4 to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections.

County committee members play a key role at FSA. Over 7,000 members nationwide provide their valuable knowledge and judgment on decisions made about FSA services, including disaster and emergency programs.

To be counted, ballots must be returned to the local FSA county office or postmarked by December 2.

Each committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office. One-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. Newly elected committee members will take office January 1, 2020. County committee members help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support programs, conservation programs, indemnity and disaster programs, and emergency programs and eligibility. 

Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. Producers who supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm, but are not of legal voting age, also may be eligible to vote. 

Producers can find out if their local administrative area is up for election and if they are eligible to vote by contacting their local FSA county office. Eligible voters who did not receive a ballot in the mail can pick one up at their local FSA county office. Visit fsa.usda.gov/elections for more information. 

Please visit our News Release page for more news from FSA.

Minnesota FSA State Committee:

The State Committee reviews state office operations and makes decisions on how programs are applied statewide. Appeals of County Committee decisions are heard at the State Committee level. The members of the Minnesota State Committee are:

• Scott Winslow - Chair
• Kurt Blomgren - Member
• Jim Kukowski - Member
• Jay Nord - Member
• Mike Yost - Member

USDA FSA Minnesota State Office

375 Jackson Street, Suite 400
St. Paul, MN 55101
Phone: 651-602-7700
Fax: 855-719-9917