2026 FSA County Committee Elections

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Farm Service Agency county committees are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of USDA/FSA and allow grassroots input and local administration of federal farm programs. The committees help county office staff approve or deny program applications and offer valuable insight on local farming practices and disasters. Nominations for the 2026 election are now being accepted and must be postmarked or received at the local FSA office by August 3, 2026. Individuals may nominate themselves or others, and qualifying organizations may also nominate candidates. 

Historically, participation overall is fairly low. According to the USDA, around 2 million ballots are mailed, but only 10% are returned. When farmers register for a USDA farm number, their voter registration is not automatically updated, but producers can request a copy of the eligible voter list or contact their county office to verify their registration. Farmers who did not receive a ballot in the mail may obtain one from their FSA county office. 

Nationwide, more than 7,700 members of the agricultural community serve on FSA county committees. The committees are made up of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. Elections are held each year in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAAs). LAAs are elective areas for FSA committees in a single county or multi-county jurisdiction. This can include LAAs focused on urban or suburban areas. A county committee election GIS locator tool is available to identify the LAA in which you or your farming interests are located. If you are interested in running for election or would like to nominate a candidate, farmers can access the Nomination Form FSA-699A online here or at their local county office. You can locate your USDA Service Center online here. Complete nomination packets are available online here and available in Spanish here.

Election Timeline

June 15, 2026: The nomination period begins.

August 3, 2026: Last day to file nomination forms at the local USDA Service Center. 

Early November, 2026: Ballots mailed to eligible voters.

December 7, 2026: Last day to return voted ballots to the USDA Service Center.

January 1, 2027: Newly elected county committee members take office.

Voter & Committee Member Eligibility

To hold office as an FSA county committee member, a person must meet each of the basic eligibility requirements:
 

  1. Be eligible to vote in an FSA county committee election. 
  2. Reside in the LAA that is up for election. 
  3. A person must not have been:
    1. Moved or disqualified from FSA county committee membership or alternate membership, or 
    2. Moved or disqualified from FSA employment
    3. Removed for cause from any public office, or convicted of fraud, larceny, embezzlement, or any other felony
    4. Dishonorably discharged from any branch of the armed services 


The following requirements must be met for a person to be eligible to vote in county committee elections:

  1. Be of legal voting age or, if not of legal voting age, supervise and conduct the farming operation of an entire farm. 
  2. Have an interest in a farm or ranch as either:
    1. An individual who meets one or more of the following: 
  1. Is eligible and capable to vote in one’s own right. 
  2. Is a partner of a general partnership. 
  3. Is a member of a joint venture. 
  4. Participates in or cooperates with any FSA program provided by law. A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation(s) but may not have applied for or received FSA program benefits. (You must have a farm number.)

Members of American Indian tribes who hold agricultural land are eligible to vote in an FSA county committee election if they meet the voting requirements. For purposes of FSA county committee elections, every member of an American Indian tribe is considered an agricultural landowner if the land on which the tribal member’s voting eligibility is based is tribally owned or held in trust by the U.S. for the tribe, even if the individual does not personally produce a crop on that land. These producers must still submit an AD-2047 Customer Data Worksheet and be loaded into the farm records database in order to receive a ballot.

Urban County Committee Elections

Over the past several years, USDA has been increasing services to producers in urban and suburban areas. Urban agriculture includes things like vertical production, warehouse farms, community gardens, rooftop farms, hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic facilities, and other innovations. These farmers are similarly defined by Local Administrative Areas (LAAs) to serve a 3-year term, and must meet the general FSA voter and nomination eligibility requirements.

Here is a list of locations with urban county committees:

County Committees for Urban Agriculture

  • Phoenix, Arizona
  • Little Rock, Arkansas
  • Los Angeles, California
  • Oakland, California
  • Denver, Colorado
  • Atlanta, Georgia
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Boston, Massachusetts
  • Detroit, Michigan
  • Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Jackson, Mississippi
  • St. Louis, Missouri
  • Kansas City, Missouri
  • Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • New York, New York
  • Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Cleveland, Ohio
  • Portland, Oregon
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Columbia, South Carolina
  • Dallas, Texas
  • Houston, Texas
  • Memphis, Tennessee
  • Richmond, Virginia

Role of Advisors for Historically Underserved Farmers

In addition to elected members, FSA county committees may include appointed non-voting advisors to help ensure fair representation for farmers who have historically been underserved, including BIPOC and women. Anyone interested in serving as a county committee advisor may submit a written request to their local FSA office. FSA state committees officially appoint advisors who are recommended by county committees or community-based organizations.

Multiple Farming Interests

Eligible voters with separate farming interests in more than one county or in more than one FSA county committee jurisdiction are eligible to vote in each election conducted for each jurisdiction’s committee. Voting is limited to one LAA where farming interests are located within each FSA county committee jurisdiction. Only one vote may be cast in each county or multi-county jurisdiction. Urban producers residing outside the designated boundary may, upon request, choose any LAA in which they have a farming interest.