Selection and Functions of Farm Service Agency State and County Committees

This rule amends the regulations governing the selection and functions of Farm Service Agency (FSA) State and county committees. The amendments are needed to make the regulations consistent with the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (the 2002 Farm Bill) and the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The intent of the amendments is to ensure that socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers are appropriately represented on county committees, to make the county committee election process more open and accountable, and to clarify requirements for committee membership in the situation where existing county committees are consolidated or combined. All of these amendments have already been implemented by FSA, except for the new provisions specifying that the Secretary may appoint a voting member to the county committee when required to ensure fair representation of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. There will be no change in State and County Committee functions and election procedures as a result of this rule, except for limited appointments of socially disadvantaged voting members. This rule is needed to make the regulations consistent with current FSA practice.