Release No.: 056-15

Contact:

Greg Rosenthal (202) 720-2739

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is asking dairy producer organizations and other interested parties to nominate candidates to serve on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Nominations must be submitted by May 15, 2015. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will appoint 12 individuals to serve on the board. The appointees will replace board members whose terms expire on Oct. 31, 2015.

USDA will accept dairy producer nominations from the following regions: Region 1 (Alaska, Oregon and Washington); Region 2 (California and Hawaii); Region 4 (Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas); Region 5 (Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota); Region 6 (Wisconsin); Region 7 (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska); Region 8 (Idaho); Region 9 (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and West 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 two members for Region 2 and Region 6, and one for each of the remaining regions.

Twelve dairy producer nominees will be appointed to serve 3-year terms beginning on Nov. 1, 2015 and ending on Oct. 31, 2018.

USDA established the 38-member board under the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983. Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, were authorized by Congress. Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 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. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (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 reflect 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. Our factsheet “Shape the Future of Agriculture” and “USDA Research and Promotion Program Diversity Recruitment Video” provide additional information about the responsibilities and benefits of serving on a research and promotion board.

For nominating forms and information, visit www.ams.usda.gov/dairy or contact Jill Hoover, Deputy Director, Promotion, Research and Planning Division, Dairy Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Room 2958-S, Stop 0233, Washington, D.C. 20250-0233; telephone (202) 720-1069; fax (202) 720-0285; or email at jill.hoover@ams.usda.gov.