AG SECRETARY APPOINTS FARMERS TO STATE FSA COMMITTEE
Five Alabama farmers have been chosen by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue as Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Committee members.
Monica Carroll of Ozark was selected committee chair. Other committee members are Andy Lavender of Brundidge, Rodney Moon of Harvest, Steve Penry of Daphne and Doug Trantham of Alexandria. All are Alabama Farmers Federation members
State committees are selected by the secretary, serve at the pleasure of the secretary, and are responsible for carrying out FSA’s farm programs.
“The state committees will help to ensure USDA is providing our farmers, ranchers, foresters and agricultural producers with the best customer service,” Perdue said. “They serve as liaisons between USDA and producers in each state across the nation by keeping them informed and hearing their appeals and complaints. The committees are made up mostly of active farmers and ranchers, representing their peers and ensuring USDA’s programs are supporting the American harvest.”
State committee members were appointed for a one-year term, which began Jan. 1. Each state committee has five members, including a chairperson and four members.
“It’s an honor to have been chosen to chair our state committee,” said Carroll. “It’s also a responsibility that I take very seriously. I know I speak for the entire committee when I say our goal is to help implement programs fairly and improve service to farmers and landowners in Alabama.”
Carroll and her husband, Chris, have a diversified farm near Ariton where they raise beef cattle, timber, row crops and poultry.
Federation President Jimmy Parnell praised Perdue’s appointments.
“Understanding and implementing USDA farm programs can be a challenging task,” Parnell said. “Secretary Perdue did an excellent job of appointing qualified, experienced farmers to our state FSA committee.”
Parnell said the appointments are critical as Congress begins work on the next farm bill.
The farm bill is a multi-year law governing numerous agricultural and food programs. It includes farm commodity price and income supports, agricultural conservation, farm credit, trade, research, rural development, bio-energy, foreign food aid and domestic nutrition assistance.