OXFORD – Gary J. Raymond, executive director for U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency in Oxford, announced that farmers and ranchers can nominate candidates to serve on local Farm Service Agency county committees. The nomination period continues through Wednesday, Aug. 1. Elections take place this fall.

“We have seen the number of minority and women producers being nominated increase significantly in recent years, and FSA would like to see that trend continue,” Raymond said. “I encourage all producers, especially minorities and women, to participate in the county committee election process by nominating candidates.”

To be eligible to serve on a FSA 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 administrative area in which the person is a candidate.

FSA county committee members make decisions on disaster and conservation payments, emergency programs, commodity price support loans and payments, and other important agricultural issues. Members serve three-year terms.

For more information on the FSA Committee election process and eligibility requirements, visit FSA’s Web site at http://www.fsa.usda.gov.