The Richmond County Farm Service Agency is soliciting nominations of local farmers and ranchers for its district that includes Steele’s, Black Jack and Rockingham precincts.

The nomination period runs through Aug. 2, then ballots will be mailed to local farmers to choose from the candidates.

Acting FSA County Executive Director Amy Yaklin explained county committee members help administer programs and oversee the county office.

“This is an important thing for area farmers and ranchers,” Yaklin said. “This committee is made of local farmers and ranchers who have an interest in farming in the county, and they have to make decision for other farmers that live and work and farm in the area. We encourage all farmers and ranchers, including you farmers and socially disadvantaged producers and owners, to participate and get involved.”

A news release from the USDA explains a Farm Service Agency county committee member 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 to be eligible to run.

“Producers may nominate themselves or others and organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates,” the press release explains. “To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign the nomination form FSA-669A. The form and other valuable information about FSA county committee elections are available online at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.

In other agriculture news:

n The application period for orchardists and nursery tree growers to begin applying for benefits under the Tree Assistance Program has begun.

“The program helps orchardists and nursery tree growers replant and get back on their feet after natural disasters,” a press release from the FSA reads. “It provides assistance for trees, bushes and vines grown for commercial purposes. The program has been expanded to include Christmas tree and nursery tree growers that were ineligible before.”

However, trees grown for pulp or timber or not grown for commercial purposes are not eligible.

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.