AMS No. 194-12

Gwen Sparks (202) 260-8210

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2012 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed three members and four alternates to serve on the National Peanut Board.

Members and alternates will serve three-year terms of office beginning Jan. 1, 2013, with the exception of a Florida alternate who will serve for two years.

Reappointed members are: John C. Harrell, Whigham, Ga.; Bob White, Clarendon, Texas; and Francis “Vic” Jordan, III, Rayville, La. Alternate members are Jeffrey Pitman, Bascom, Fla.; Andy Bell, Climax, Ga.; Peter Froese, Jr, Seminole, Texas and Kyle Baltz, Pocahontas, Ark.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of the National Peanut Board in accordance with the Commodity Promotion Research, and Information Act of 1996 and the Peanut Promotion, Research, and Information Order.

Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, authorized by Congress, and date back to 1966, when Congress passed the Cotton Research and Promotion Act. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 20 research and promotion boards. They empower farmers and ranchers 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. Visit www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion to learn more about research and promotion programs.

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