07/27/05 County committee deadline nears

Farm Service Agency state director Wayne Hammon is encouraging producers to get involved and serve on a county committee. But you have to act because the nomination deadline is August 1st. HAMMON "They need to be an active farmer in the county but that farm can be five to ten acres or five thousand or ten thousand acres. If they're actively farming in the community then they can run for election. Anybody in the community can nominate a farmer to serve on the committee. In fact a farmer can even nominate himself. They come by and pick up the nomination form, fill it out and bring it back and we'll get their name on the ballot." Hammon says they're looking for people representative of that county's agriculture. In other words, a sugar beet grower in a county where beets might be a main crop, or potatoes, dairy or beef representatives where those commodities dominate. HAMMON "I speak to farmers and ranchers a lot. You hear them complain about government agencies and how they just don't get it how bureaucrats in DC are making decisions that affect us here in Idaho. Well here's an opportunity for an active farmer and rancher to make a difference, to be involved, to help make that decision." Almost anyone participating or cooperating in a local FSA program and of legal voting age may be a candidate. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott