Ballots for the county committee election were mailed out Nov. 3 for Local Administrative Areas 1 and 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. FSA 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 grassroots level. It is vital all eligible farmers and ranchers vote in this year's election to ensure these committees represent the interests of all producers in a community.

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

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

a. An owner, operator, tenant or sharecropper, or

b. 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 nominees for LAA 1 (Northern Butler County) are:

n Randy Smith — Mr. Smith and his four brothers own and operate Smith Incredibull Dairy Farm in Washington Township.

The milking herd is 550 cows. Crops produced include corn silage, hay, oats, corn grain, soybeans and sweet corn. Smith currently serves LAA-1 on the FSA county committee and currently serves as a Washington Township supervisor.

• H. George Hartzell — Mr. Hartzell and his brother own and operate Hartzell Farm in Slippery Rock Township. They have a herd of Holstein cattle. Hartzell's father, children and two employees work on the dairy farm. Crops produced include corn, small grains and hay. Mr. Hartzell has been involved with the local dairy club, Ag Land Preservation and the Farm Bureau.

The nominee for LAA 5 (Southern Beaver Co and Allegheny County) is:

• Virginia "Ginny" Strouss — The Strouss Farm is located in Findlay Township, Allegheny County. Previously a dairy farm, the it now has some beef cattle and horses. The farm produces corn, oats, speltz, straw and hay.

Voters are reminded to sign the label on the inside flap of the return envelope to be considered a valid ballot. These labels are removed prior to opening of the ballots to ensure a private vote.

Commodity Loans

The current interest rate for nine-month commodity loans disbursed in November is 2.5 percent.

Eligible commodities are corn, soybeans, wheat, oats and barley.

Commodity loans provide one option for producers to consider when obtaining operating capital for crop inputs. Commodity loans are simple to process and are normally completed within five working days of the request.

Commodity loans are popular for a variety of reasons: to provide capital, provide better opportunity for timely grain marketing and capitalize on discounts for inputs offered in the winter. Each farm has its own use.

More information will be provided in a future news release

AG humor

A Texas farmer goes to Australia for a vacation. There, he meets an Aussie farmer, who shows off his big wheat field. The Texan says, "Oh, we have wheat fields that are at least twice as large." Then they walk around the ranch a little and the Aussie shows off his herd of cattle. The Texan says, "We have longhorns that are at least twice as large as your cows." The conversation has almost died by now, but the Texan sees a herd of kangaroos hopping through the field. He asks, "And what are those?" The Aussie asks with an incredulous look, "Don't you have any grasshoppers in Texas?"

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.