Release No.: 133-13

Contact:

Pam Stanziani, (202) 720-8998

Pamela.stanziani@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, August 7, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed three members and three alternates to serve on the National Peanut Board (Board).

"I am pleased that these individuals have agreed to provide their time and expertise," said Vilsack. “I am confident that domestic peanut producers will be well served by them.”

Board appointees serve a three-year term beginning January 1, 2014, and ending on December 31, 2016, with the exception of the South Carolina member and alternate member positions, which begin immediately and end on December 31, 2015. New members include Gayle White, Frederick, Ok; Edward M. Rast, Jr., Cameron, SC; and Wayne Baker, Portales, NM. Alternate members include Les Crall, Weatherford, Ok; Kenneth Cox, Portales, NM; and Corrin F. “Bud” Bowers, Jr., Estill, SC.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service 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. Under the order, domestic producers pay an assessment at the rate of 1 percent of the total value of all farmers’ stock peanuts sold. The program is administered by industry Board members selected by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

Research and promotion programs help to expand, maintain and develop markets for individual commodities in the United States and abroad. They allow commodity groups to conduct promotion, market and production research, and new product development for the benefit of their industries. For more information about research and promotion programs, visit www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion. For information on the Board, please contact Jeanette Palmer at (888) 720-9917, or Jeanette.Palmer@ams.usda.gov.

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