Release No.: 016-14

Contact:

Hakim Fobia (202) 690-0488

Washington, January 23, 2014 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the appointment of two members to fill vacancies on the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. The terms for these appointees are effective immediately and expire on June 30, 2014. The appointees will be eligible to serve an additional three-year term after June 30, 2014.

“I am confident that these experts will serve fluid milk processors well” Vilsack said. “I look to them to help ensure the strength of this vital sector of the rural economy.”

Newly appointed members are: Kevin R. Herbert, Frisco, Texas (Region 8); and Edward L. Mullins, Litchfield, Ill. (Region 11).

The National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board is composed of 15 fluid milk processors from 15 geographic regions and five at-large members. At least three at-large members must be fluid milk processors and at least one must be from the general public. The board was established by the Fluid Milk Promotion Act of 1990 to develop and administer a coordinated program of advertising and promotion to increase the demand for fluid milk products.

The national fluid milk program is financed by a mandatory 20-cent per hundredweight assessment on all fluid milk processed and marketed commercially in consumer-type packages in the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia. Processors who commercially process and market 3 million pounds or less per month, excluding those fluid milk products delivered to the residence of a consumer, are exempt from assessments.

USDA encourages board membership that reflects the diversity of the individuals served by the programs. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) monitors the operations of the board.

Research and Promotion Programs are industry-funded, were authorized by Congress, and date back to 1966. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 21 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. 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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