AMS No. 069-13

Hakim Fobia (202) 690-0488

WASHINGTON, April 30, 2013 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture 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 30, 2013.

The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint 14 individuals to serve on the board. The appointees will replace 12 board members whose terms expire Oct. 31, 2013, and fill two currently vacant positions.

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, two for Region 9, and one for each of the remaining regions and the dairy importer position.

Twelve dairy producer nominees will be appointed to serve 3 year terms beginning Nov. 1, 2013, and ending Oct. 31, 2016. One dairy producer nominee will be appointed to fill a shortened term, for Region 9, beginning immediately and ending Oct. 31, 2015. The dairy importer nomination will be for a 3-year term beginning Nov. 1, 2013, and ending Oct. 31, 2016.

USDA established the 38-member board under the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983. Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, authorized by Congress, and date back to 1966. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 20 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 reflects 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.

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