Ballots for the county committee election will be mailed out today for Local Administrative Area 1 & 5. Voters have until Dec. 1 to return their ballots to the county office.

FSA County Committee members make important decisions on how federal farm programs fit the needs of Pennsylvania producers. County committees make decisions on commodity price support loans and payments; establishment of allotments and yields; conservation programs; incentive, indemnity, and disaster payments for some commodities; and other farm disaster assistance.

The FSA County Committee system, established in the 1930s, gives local farmers and ranchers a much-needed say in how farm programs are administered at the grass-roots level. It is vital that all eligible farmers and ranchers vote in this year's election to ensure that these committees represent the interests of all producers in a community.

If you are on the Farm Service Agency mailing list, then you likely are an eligible voter. Anyone who meets the requirements in conditions 1 or 2, plus condition 3, is eligible to vote.

1. Be of legal voting age and have an interest in a farm or ranch as either of the following:

— an owner, operator, tenant or sharecropper, or

— a partner in a general partnership or member of a joint venture that has an interest in a farm as an owner, operator, tenant or sharecropper; or

2. Not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations on an entire farm; and

3. Eligible to participate in any FSA program that is provided by law, regardless of the status of funding.

The following candidates are on the ballot in Local Administrative Area 1, which covers the following townships in Butler County — Mercer, Marion, Venango, Allegheny, Slippery Rock, Cherry, Washington, Parker, Worth, Brady, Clay, Concord and Fairview. The candidates provided a brief description of their operation.• Randal Smith — Our farm is located in Washington Township, Butler County. The family farm operation has been in existence since 1967, which at that time was under the direction of my father, William Smith. Along with my wife, daughters and siblings we farm about 2,500 acres of crops in the surrounding area consisting of soybeans, corn, hay and small grains. We also have a beef operation of 80 brood cattle and 250 feeder cattle. I have been a township supervisor for 23 years. I have been actively involved in our farming operation all my life.• Richard Stuchal — Our farm is located in Mercer Township, Butler County. The family farm operation has been in existence since the late '70s. Since retirement, I currently assist my son Cory with planting and harvesting of about 2,100 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat. I also have a beef operation of 18 brood cattle and 6 feeder cattle. I have been a township supervisor for 16 years and belong to the PA Farm Bureau. In the future I will continue to offer my knowledge, service and support to the farming community.

The following candidates are on the ballot in Local Administrative Area 5, which is in Beaver County south of the Ohio River and Allegheny County:• Thomas Mischen — A beef and crop producer from Gibsonia in Allegheny County. Tom and his family operate Mish Market and retail fresh beef, lamb and pork to their customers. Tom maintains a large beef operation and expects to soon start raising hogs. Crops grown include corn, corn silage, soybeans, oats and hay.• John Scott — A dairy producer from Oakdale in Allegheny County. John and his family operate a dairy farm and raise hay, corn silage, corn, soybeans and oats. John formerly served on the West Allegheny School Board for many years and is a member of the PA Farm Bureau.

This replaces the Milk Income Loss Contract program and gives participating dairy producers the flexibility to select coverage levels best suited for their operation.Enrollment is under way and ends on Dec. 5 for 2014 and 2015. Participating farmers must remain in the program through 2018 and pay a minimum $100 administrative fee each year.Producers have the option of selecting a different coverage level during open enrollment each year.Contact the Farm Service Agency office for more information as production information will be required.<i>Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.</i>