WASHINGTON, D.C. — The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin accepting nominations
for county committee members on Friday, June 14. Agricultural producers who participate or
cooperate in an FSA program may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee. Individuals may nominate themselves or others as a candidate.

“I encourage America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest stewards to nominate candidates to lead, serve, and represent their community on their county committee,” FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce said.

“There’s an increasing need for diverse representation including underserved producers, which includes beginning, women and minority farmers and ranchers,” Fordyce said.

Producers should visit their local FSA office today to find out how to get involved in their county’s election. Check with your local USDA service center to see if your local administrative area is up for election this year. Organizations, including those representing beginning, women, and minority producers, also may nominate candidates.

To contact the Oxford County Farm Service Agency at 17 Olson Road, South Paris, call 744-3114.

To contact the Androscoggin/Sagadahoc County Farm Service Agency at 254 Goddard Road, Lewiston, call 241-5371.

Committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. Their input is vital on how FSA carries out disaster programs, as well as conservation, commodity and price support programs, county office employment and other agricultural issues.

Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agricultural community serving on FSA county committees. The committees are made of three to 11 members and typically meet once a month.

Members serve three-year terms. Producers serving on the FSA county committees play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of the agency.

To be considered, a producer must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at fsa.usda.gov/elections. All nomination forms for the 2019 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2019.

Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters beginning Nov. 4, 2019.