The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that the nomination period for local Farm Service Agency county committees began Monday, June 15.

FSA has seen arise in the number of nominations, especially among women and minorities.

To be eligible, a person must participate or cooperate in an agency administered program, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area where they are nominated.

Farmers and ranchers may nominate themselves or others. To become a candidate, an eligible person must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. The form and other information about committee elections are available at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.

Nomination forms for the 2015 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business Aug. 3.

FSA will mail ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 9. Ballots will be due back to the local office either by mail or in person by Dec. 7. Newly elected committee members and alternates will take office on Jan. 1, 2016.