Beltone a t Master se rvi ce Far mers, ranchers, and other agricultural producers have until August 1, to nominate eligible candidates to serve on local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees.

"County committees are important because they help deliver federal programs which is an important aspect of our service to agriculture," says Teresa Lasseter, administrator of USDA's FSA. "I encourage all producers to get involved by nominating eligible candidates to serve on county committees.

Lasseter especially urges producers to nominate beginning farmers and ranchers as well as minorities and women. Helping beginning farmers and ranchers is a USDA priority under the new farm bill. Having these producers in the county committees will help build a strong future for the next generation of agricultural businesses and communities.

FSA county committees help local farmers through their decisions on commodity price support loans, conservation programs and disaster programs, and by working closely with county executive directors.

To hold office as a county committee member, 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.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others as candidates. The county committee nomination period began June 15. Voting takes place in the fall. Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters by November 3. The final day to return voted ballots to the local USDA Service Center is December 1. Newly elected county committee members take office January 1, 2009.