Farmers and agricultural landowners in Chattooga County and across Northwest Georgia are being reminded that ballots for the 2026 USDA Farm Service Agency county committee elections must be returned by December 7.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced November 9 that ballots have been mailed to eligible agricultural producers and private landowners throughout the country.

Farm Service Agency county committees give farmers and ranchers a direct voice in how federal agricultural programs are administered at the local level.

Committee members help make decisions involving farm disaster assistance, conservation programs, commodity and price support programs, county office operations and other agricultural matters.

Elections are conducted annually in designated Local Administrative Areas, with committee members serving three-year terms.

To be eligible to vote, agricultural producers generally must participate in or cooperate with a USDA program and reside in an area holding an election.

Farmers who have provided information about their agricultural operations to the Farm Service Agency may qualify as cooperating producers even if they have not received federal program benefits.

Completed ballots must be delivered in person to the appropriate Farm Service Agency office by the close of business Monday, December 7, or mailed with a postmark no later than that date.

Eligible voters who have not received a ballot should contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency office to request one.

More than 7,700 agricultural community members serve on Farm Service Agency county committees nationwide.

Newly elected committee members will begin their terms January 1, 2027.

Farmers can learn more about the elections and identify the Local Administrative Area covering their property by visiting fsa.usda.gov/elections.

The USDA encourages eligible farmers and landowners to participate in the election process to ensure their agricultural communities are represented in decisions affecting federal farm programs.