The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Montana Farm Service Agency announced Tuesday that the deadline to submit ballots for the 2016 County Committee elections has been extended to Dec. 13

In a press release, the agency stated it extended the election to ensure farmers and ranchers have sufficient time to vote.

Eligible voters must return ballots to their local FSA offices, where they can also pick up a ballot if they have not yet received one.

Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than Dec. 13. Newly elected committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2017.

Nearly 7,700 committee members serve FSA offices nationwide. Each committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office. Committee members apply their knowledge and judgment to help FSA make decisions on its commodity support, conservation, indemnity, disaster and emergency programs.

Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. Approximately 1.5 million producers are currently eligible to vote. Farmers and ranchers who supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm, but are not of legal voting age, also may be eligible to vote.

For more information, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/elections or the local USDA service center or FSA office.