Release No.: 141-14

Contact:

Sam Jones-Ellard (202) 660-2268

Samuel.jones@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2014- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced five appointments to the 15-member National Pork Board. The five appointees will each serve 3-year terms.

According to USDA’s Census of Agriculture statistics, there are 63,246 pork operations, representing about 66 million head of pigs. Top pork producing states include Iowa, North Carolina, Minnesota, Illinois and Indiana.

The five appointees were nominated by the National Pork Producers Delegate Body during its meeting in Kansas City, Missouri in March. The newly appointed members representing pork producers are: Brett Kaysen, Nunn, Colorado; Steven Rommereim, Alcester, South Dakota; and Craig Rowles, Carroll, Iowa. Members reappointed to the board include: Henry Moore, Clinton, North Carolina, and Glen Walters, Forsyth, Georgia.

Established under the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985, the board develops budgets and awards contracts to carry out a coordinated program designed to strengthen the position of pork in the marketplace.

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.

#