Release No. 108-14

Contact:

Hakim Fobia (202) 690-0488

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2014 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is asking dairy producer and importer organizations to nominate candidates to serve on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Nominations must be submitted by May 15, 2014.

The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint 13 individuals to serve on the board. The appointees will replace board members whose terms expire Oct. 31, 2014.

USDA will accept dairy producer nominations from the following regions: Region 1 (Alaska, Oregon, and Washington); Region 3 (Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming); Region 4 (Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas); Region 5 (Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota); Region 6 (Wisconsin); Region 7 (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska); Region 8 (Idaho); 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 12 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont). The Secretary will appoint two members for Region 4 and Region 6, and one for each of the remaining regions and dairy importer position.

Twelve dairy producer nominees and one dairy importer nominee will be appointed to serve 3-year terms beginning Nov. 1, 2014, and ending Oct. 31, 2017.

USDA established the 38-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 Whitney A. Rick, Director, Promotion, Research, and Planning Division, Dairy Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Room 2958-S, Stop 0233, Washington, D.C. 20250-0233; telephone (202) 720-6909; fax (202) 720-0285; or email at whitney.rick@ams.usda.gov.

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

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).