The USDA’s Farm Service Agency will start accepting nominations for county committee members on Monday, June 15th. Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas for these members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2020 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by August 1st of 2020. “I encourage farmers, ranchers, as well as forest stewards to nominate candidates to lead, serve, and represent their community on their county committees,” says FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. “There’s an increasing need for diverse representation, including underserved producers such as beginning, women, and minority farmers and ranchers.” Producers who participate or cooperate in an FSA program and reside in the local administrative area that’s up for election this year may be nominated. Individuals can nominate themselves or others. Organizations may also nominate individuals, including those organizations that represent beginning, women, and minority farmers. Committee members are vital to how FSA carries out disaster programs, as well as conservation, commodity, and price-support programs, county office employment, as well as other agricultural issues.