Urban County 

Committee Elections

Eligibility to vote and hold office as a county committee member

Overview

USDA has been increasing 

services to producers in urban 

locations throughout the U.S. 

This includes Farm Service 

Agency (FSA) County Committees 

(COC), critical entities of the dayto-day operations of FSA that 

allow grassroots input and local 

administration of federal farm 

programs. 

A list of locations with urban county 

committees can be found at fsa.usda.

gov/elections.

The U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) encourages 

all eligible producers and 

urban growers to vote or hold 

office as county committee 

members, including beginning or 

established producers, historically 

underserved producers (minority 

and women), or large or small 

operations.

Urban Farming

Urban agriculture includes the cultivation, 

processing, and distribution of agricultural 

products in urban and suburban areas. 

Community gardens, rooftop farms, 

hydroponic, aeroponic and aquaponic 

facilities, vertical production, and other 

innovative practices, are all examples of 

urban agriculture. Tribal communities and 

small towns may also be included. Urban 

farmers and gardeners work among diverse 

populations to expand access to nutritious 

foods, foster community engagement, 

provide jobs, educate communities about 

farming, and expand green spaces.

How it Works

Urban producers are elected to serve 

by urban producers in the defined Local 

Administrative Area (LAA) to serve a 3-year 

commitment. FSA county committees will 

meet at least quarterly and help identify 

the needs of the growing urban agriculture 

market for both Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS) and FSA 

programs by: 

• Outreach and partnership with local 

stakeholders.

• Identifying urban agriculture community 

needs to assist the USDA in determining 

potential (legislative, regulatory, 

administrative) program enhancements.

• Tailoring program recommendations for 

future grower opportunities.

• Understanding and promoting available 

USDA programs.

• Providing education on USDA programs 

and FSA committees to urban producers 

and local stakeholders.

• Reviewing producer applications and 

assisting with administrative and 

programmatic oversight.

Who is Eligible to Vote?

Contact your local FSA office to confirm 

your eligibility. Affirmation of eligibility 

to vote must be determined for a vote to 

count in an election. General eligibility 

requirements include: 

1. Is of legal voting age, or if not of legal 

voting age, supervise and conduct the 

farming operation for the entire farm.

2. Is engaged in the production or sale of an 

agricultural commodity as either:

• An individual who meets one or more 

of the following:

– Is eligible and capable to vote in one’s 

own right.

– Is a partner of a general partnership.

– Is a member of a joint venture.

• An authorized representative of a legal 

entity, such as:

– A corporation, estate, trust, limited 

partnership, non-profit or other 

business enterprise, excluding general 

partnerships and joint ventures. 

– A state, political subdivision of a state, 

or any state agency.

Only the designated representative 

may cast a vote for the entity.

3. Participates or cooperates in any USDA 

program that is provided for by law.

Note: A cooperating producer is someone who 

has provided information about their urban 

operation(s) even if they have not applied or 

received USDA program benefits.

Contact your local FSA office to register as 

an urban grower, voter, or to be considered 

as an eligible nominee in the COC Election.

AUGUST 2023
Interpretation of Voting Eligibility for 

Spouses in Community Property States 

In community property states, the spouse of 

an eligible voter is also eligible to vote.

Local Administrative Areas

A county or multi-county jurisdiction served 

by an FSA county committee is divided into 

3 to 11 local administrative areas (LAA). 

Each LAA is represented by one member on 

the FSA county committee. A person may 

only vote in one LAA (the LAA in which one 

participates or cooperates in FSA programs 

or programs administered by FSA). Urban 

participants must have an interest within 

the county or multi-county boundary.

Individuals can identify the LAA they or 

their farming interests are located in via a 

county committee election GIS locator tool 

on fsa.usda.gov/elections. 

Multiple Farm Interests in Same 

County or Area 

Eligible voters who participate or cooperate 

in USDA programs on separate farms in 

more than one LAA in the same county or 

multi-county jurisdiction may only cast one 

ballot and be eligible to hold office in one 

LAA. Voters with farming interests in more 

than one LAA will only be eligible to vote 

once and will be assigned to the LAA closest 

to where they reside. Urban producers 

residing outside the designated boundary 

may choose any LAA they have farming 

interest in upon request. 

Who can Hold Office? 

To hold office as an FSA county committee 

member, a person must meet each of the 

basic eligibility requirements described 

below:

1. Be a U.S. citizen.

2. Be an urban producer with records 

administered through the urban COC 

jurisdiction.

3. Reside or have farming interests in the 

LAA that is up for election.*

* In instances where a candidate has no 

farming interest within the LAA they reside, 

they may be assigned to the LAA where their 

farming interests are located. 

4. A person must not have been:

• Removed or disqualified from:

— FSA county committee membership 

or alternate membership, or 

— FSA employment.

• Removed for cause from any public 

office or have been convicted of fraud, 

larceny, embezzlement or any other 

felony.

• Dishonorably discharged from any 

branch of the armed services.

During the election period, individuals not 

receiving a ballot in the mail may obtain a 

ballot directly from their FSA county office. 

The ballot must be cast on or before the 

election deadline.

Discrimination Prohibited

USDA prohibits discrimination in all its 

programs and activities on the basis of race, 

color, national origin, age, disability, and 

where applicable, sex, marital status, familial 

status, parental status, religion, sexual 

orientation, genetic information, political 

beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of 

an individual’s income is derived from any 

public assistance program.

FSA and NRCS 

Programs Available 

FSA – Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance 

Program, Organic Certification Cost Share 

Program, microloans and Farm Storage 

Facility Loans.

NRCS – Conservation financial and 

technical assistance, including high tunnels, 

soil health, and irrigation.

For more information on programs for 

available for urban farmers, visit farmers.

gov/urban.

More Information

This fact sheet is for informational purposes 

only; other restrictions may apply. For 

program specifics or additional information 

about FSA county committees, visit a 

local USDA Service Center or the FSA 

county committee website at fsa.usda.gov/

elections.

Anytime

Contact your local FSA 

office for information 

on 

how to participate. 

By

June

Register 

to be an 

eligible voter.

MidJune

Beginning of 

nomination period.

Forms available at 

fsa.usda.gov/elections.

Early

Aug.

Last day to file 

nomination forms at 

the local FSA county 

office.

Early

Nov.

Ballots mailed to 

eligible voters.

Early

Dec.

Last day to return 

voted ballots to the 

local FSA county 

office.

January

1

Newly elected county 

committee members 

take office.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. fsa.usda.gov