LEWISTON – Jane Harden, executive director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency for Androscoggin and Sagadahoc counties, has announced farmer candidate nominations are being accepted for local Farm Service Agency county committees. The nomination period continues through Aug. 1 and elections will take place this fall.

“Participation from farmers is essential to the election process to ensure that FSA county committees represent the interests of all producers in our area,” said Harden. “I encourage agricultural producers throughout Androscoggin County to nominate eligible candidates of their choice, especially minorities and women, to serve on the local county committees.”

To be eligible to serve on a county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area in which the person is a candidate.

Producers may also nominate themselves, and organizations representing minority and women may also nominate candidates. To become a nominee, eligible individuals must sign form FSA-669A.

The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov; click on News and Events, then county committee elections.

Nomination forms for the 2008 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 1.

Committee members make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support loan programs and other agricultural issues. Members serve three-year terms.

FSA will mail ballots to producers beginning Nov. 3. The ballots are due back to the local county office either via mail or in person by Dec. 1. Newly elected committee members and alternates take office Jan. 1.

Find FSA news releases on the agency’s Web site at http://www.fsa.usda.gov.