Release No. 218-14

Hakim Fobia, (202) 690-0488

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2014 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations for an alternate member seat on the National Peanut Board. Applications are due Nov. 28, 2014.

The 12-member board includes a representative and an alternate from each of the primary peanut-producing states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. It also includes an at-large member and alternate representing the smaller peanut-producing states.

The board will fill one alternate member seat for Mississippi for a term beginning on Jan. 1, 2015. The selected alternate member will serve a 3-year term. All eligible peanut producers are encouraged to participate. Eligible producers are those who are engaged in the production and sale of peanuts and who own, or share the ownership and risk of loss of the crop.

The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association will meet to nominate their first and second choices for an alternate to the National Peanut Board on Nov.18, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. Central Standard Time. The meeting will be held at the Mississippi Farm Bureau, 6311 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, Miss. 39211.

The state and board representatives will answer questions about the nomination process and distribute applications to interested candidates in Mississippi.

The USDA encourages board membership that reflects the diversity of the individuals served by the research and promotion programs. All eligible women, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to seek nomination for a seat on the National Peanut Board.

If you would like more information about the National Peanut Board, the upcoming nomination meeting or an application, please contact the board’s Vice President of Finance and Compliance, Maria Mehok, by phone at (678) 424-5750, or e-mail at mymehok@nationalpeanutboard.org.

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 agricultural industries by establishing a framework for them to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight, helping to ensure fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.

Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.

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