BELFAST – Farm Service Agency committee member elections in the Waldo County and Knox-Lincoln County areas began Tuesday with ballots being mailed to eligible voters. The deadline for eligible voters to return ballots to their local FSA offices is Dec. 1.

The Waldo County area with candidates up for election this year represents eligible FSA voters in Belfast, Belmont, Islesboro, Liberty, Lincolnville, Montville, Morrill, Northport, Palermo, Searsmont and Waldo. The candidates are Jeffrey E. Keene of Belfast and Brian D. Simmons of Morrill.

The Knox-Lincoln area with candidates up for election represents eligible voters in Bremen, Bristol, Damariscotta, Nobleboro and Waldoboro. The candidates are Jeffrey R. Spear of Nobleboro and Wayne B. Cunningham of Waldoboro.

To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in FSA programs. A person who is not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm, can also vote. Agricultural producers in each country submitted candidate names during the nomination period held last summer.

For information contact Trudy J. Soucy at 338-1964, ext. 2, or 273-2002, ext. 2, or go to www.fsa.usda.gov.