The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is asking dairy producer organizations and other interested parties to nominate candidates to serve on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Nominations must be submitted by Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016.
The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint 12 dairy producers to serve three-year terms beginning Nov. 1, 2016, and ending Oct. 31, 2019. The appointees will replace producer board members whose terms expire Oct. 31, 2016.
USDA will accept dairy producer nominations from the following regions: Region 2 (California and Hawaii); Region 3 (Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming); Region 4 (Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas); Region 6 (Wisconsin); Region 9 (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia); Region 10 (Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia); Region 11 (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania); and Region 12 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont). The Secretary will appoint five members for Region 2, and one member for each of the remaining regions.
USDA established the 37-member board under the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983. Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, were authorized by Congress, and date back to 1966. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 research and promotion boards. They empower industry stakeholders to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal responsibility, program efficiency, and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.
USDA welcomes membership on industry boards that reflect the diversity of the individuals served by the programs. USDA encourages all eligible women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to seek nomination to serve on the board.
For nominating forms and information, visit www.ams.usda.gov/dairy or contact Jill Hoover, Deputy Director, Promotion, Research, and Planning Division, Dairy Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Room 2958-S, Stop 0233, Washington, D.C. 20250-0233; telephone (202) 720-1069; fax (202) 720-0285; or email at jill.hoover@ams.usda.gov.