PARIS – Laura M. Rand, executive director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Oxford County, announced the election period for county committees will be held from Nov. 4 through Dec. 5.

“County committees help administer federal farm programs at the local level. It is vital that FSA committees represent a cross-section of producers in each community,” said Rand. “I encourage all eligible producers, especially minorities and women, to make a difference by voting in this year’s FSA county committee elections.”

County committees help ensure agricultural programs serve the needs of local producers. Committees provide input on commodity price support loans and payments, conservation programs, disaster payments and other farm disaster assistance.

Most committees consist of three to five members and may have one or more appointed advisers to represent the interests of minority and women farmers and ranchers.

Agricultural producers, who participate or cooperate in any FSA program and are of legal voting age, can vote. A person supervising and conducting the farming operations on an entire farm, but not of legal voting age, can also vote.

Ballots will be mailed to eligible farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers on Nov. 4. Eligible producers should contact their local offices if they do not receive a ballot. All ballots must be returned or be post-marked by Dec. 5.

The candidate receiving the most votes will serve a three-year term; second most votes, three-year term as the first alternate; third most votes serves, second alternate. For more information, visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/.