The Lauderdale County Farm Service Agency Office will hold a meeting July 20 to educate local farmers about the importance of the County Committee election.

The meeting will be at 1 p.m. the USDA Service Center, 1030 Highway 19 South in Meridian.

Committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA. Farmers who serve on the committee help decide the kind of programs their counties will have and how they will be administered.

They make FSA agricultural programs fit the needs of local producers. Committee members apply their judgment and knowledge to make local decisions; however, they operate within official regulations designed to carry out federal laws.

FSA wants to include all farmers, including those in non-traditional operations and people whose livelihoods are made on farming. These people could include beginning farmers, specialty crop farmers, truck farmers, spouses or business partners.

Representation on the committee is important for all groups, including socially disadvantaged groups such as women, African-Americans, American Indians, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Anyone who would be able to add new or different experiences to the local County Committee is encouraged to submit a nomination.

A nomination form signed by the nominee is needed to nominate a farmer-candidate. The form includes a statement that the candidate agrees to serve if elected.

Nomination forms are available at the Lauderdale County FSA office. Nomination forms for this year’s Farm Service Agency County Committee Election are due by Aug. 1.

Farmers, operators, tenants, and sharecroppers of legal voting age can vote if they are eligible to take part in any FSA program. The Lauderdale County FSA Committee election this year will be held for Local Administrative Area 1 — which is the southeast part of the county, including the communities of Alamucha, Long Creek, Zero, Causeyville and Whynot.

For more information, call Terri White at (601) 483-4100, ext. 2.