Ballots have been mailed to eligible voters--those who participate in Federal Service Agency programs, for the election of Marion County Farm Service Agency committee members.

Producers in the townships of Lehigh, Risley, Menno, Liberty, East Branch, and West Branch received ballots with instructions for the election of one candidate to serve as a county committee member for a 3-year term beginning in January.

The county committee system allows grassroots–level producers to make decisions concerning the local administration of federal farm programs. Committee members apply their knowledge and judgment to make determinations on a variety of issues including benefit payments, establishment of acreage bases, and hearing producer appeals.

The current county committee will tabulate ballots publicly at 10 a.m. Dec. 12 in the Marion County USDA Service Center, 301 Eisenhower Dr., Marion.