AMS No. 213-12

Sam Jones-Ellard (202) 660-2268

Samuel.jones@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2012—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced four appointments to the Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Board.

"These appointees represent a cross section of the sorghum industry and I am confident that sorghum producers will be well served by them," said Vilsack.

Appointed members representing sorghum producers are: David A. Fremark, At-large, St. Lawrence, South Dakota; William J. Greving, Prairie View, Kansas; Gregory K. Shelor, Minneola, Kansas; and William H. Kubecka, Palacios, Texas.

The board is structured so that the state with the largest production is allocated five positions. The state with the second largest production is allocated three positions. The state with the third largest production is allocated one position. There are four at-large national positions for which at least two representatives must be appointed from states other than the top three sorghum producing states. The maximum number of producers from one state is limited to six. The appointees will serve terms of three years.

The 13-member board is authorized by the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996. The Secretary selected the appointees from sorghum producers nominated by certified sorghum producer organizations.

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.

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