Farm Service Agency County Executive Director Jeff S. Davis reminds producers that the 2012 county committee elections deadline to return the ballots to local FSA offices is Monday, Dec. 3.

Locally, producers are electing a nominee from Mathews in 2012, Davis said. The nominees are Krista Gustafson, Gloucester Cooperative Extension unit director and farm landowner and vegetable producer, and Nelson Troy Whitehead, a cash grain and livestock farmer. Both reside at North.

"The role and input of our county committee member is more vital than ever," Davis said. "New county committee members provide input and make important decisions on the local administration of disaster and conservation programs.

"With better participation in recent years, we also have seen promising increases in the number of women and minority candidates," he said.

Eligible voters who did not receive a ballot can obtain ballots from their local FSA Service Center, with Dec. 3 the last day for voters to submit ballots in person to an FSA office. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Dec. 3.

Newly elected committee members and their alternates will take office on Jan. 1, 2013.

On a separate matter, FSA will continue to accept SURE applications for 2011 crop losses through June 7, 2013. The SURE Program provides payments to producers when crop revenues are less than the crop guarantee.

The SURE Program payment is equal to 60 percent of the difference between the crop guarantee and revenue, Davis said. To determine the guarantee and revenue for the SURE Program, all crops on all farms for a producer are included in the calculation. Payments under the SURE Program are limited to $100,000.

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