Freeborn County USDA Farm Service Agency Executive Director Lee Crawford reminds producers the nomination period for the county committee election opens June 17. Request nomination forms from the local USDA Service Center or obtain online at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.

“I urge all farmers and ranchers to participate in this year’s county committee elections by nominating candidates by the Aug. 1 deadline,” Crawford said. “County committees are a vital link between the farm community and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and provide a voice to landowners, farmers and ranchers so that they have an opportunity for their opinions and ideas to be heard. With better participation in recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of nominations of women and minority candidates. I hope that trend continues.”

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

Farmers and rancher may nominate themselves or others, and organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign the nomination form, FSA-669A. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available online at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. Nomination forms for the 2013 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 1. Elections will take place this fall.

While FSA county committees do not approve or deny Farm Loan Program loans, they make decisions on disaster and conservation programs, emergency programs, commodity price support and facility loan programs and other agricultural issues. Members serve three-year terms. Nationwide, there are about 7,800 farmers and ranchers serving on FSA county committees. Committees consist of three to 11 members that are elected by eligible producers.

For questions regarding the county committee, please contact the Freeborn County FSA office at 373-7960.