SPRINGFIELD — Farmers have until Aug. 1 to nominate candidates to serve on local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees.

The county committee nomination period began June 15. FSA county committees make decisions on commodity price support loans, conservation programs, disaster programs, employing county executive directors and other significant agricultural issues.

“County committees play a vital role in the administration of federal farm programs and are the voice of local landowners and farmers,” said Scherrie Giamanco, USDA Illinois FSA executive director. “They have a positive effect on rural communities as they represent farmers in their area of the county.”

To hold office as a county committee member, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by the 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. All nominees must sign nomination form FSA-669A, which is available at USDA Service Centers or online at http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/FSA669-A.PDF.

All nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by the close of business Aug. 1.

Voting takes place in the fall. Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters by Nov. 5. The final day to return completed ballots to the local USDA Service Center is Dec. 3. Newly elected county committee members take office Jan. 1, 2013.