Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.

On Friday, June 14, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency started accepting nominations for county committee members. This year, nominations and elections will be held in northeast San Benito County.

Agricultural producers who participate or cooperate in a Farm Service Agency (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 in a press release.

According to the release, 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.

Producers can visit their local FSA office to find out how to get involved in their county’s election. Check with the local USDA service center to see if your local administrative area is up for election this year. Organizations may also nominate candidates.

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. Read more to learn about important election dates.