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Members of national commodity promotion boards (sometimes called councils) are nominated by industry and appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. They serve a vital role in overseeing board operations. It is USDA's policy that board membership accurately reflects the diversity of individuals served by the programs. USDA is concerned about the number of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities on the various commodity boards. Therefore, it is USDA’s policy that membership on USDA boards and committees (1) be open to all individuals without regard based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, marital or familial status, political beliefs, parental status, receipt of public assistance, or protected genetic information, and (2) reflect the diversity of individuals served by the programs. USDA is committed to equal opportunity and seeks your organization's support in fulfilling this commitment. USDA encourages eligible women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to seek nomination to serve on the boards and participate in their deliberations. Each year, approximately 1/3 of the membership of each group must be reappointed. Generally, members may serve two three-year terms. Some boards also have alternate members.
BACKGROUND: The Pork Checkoff Program is administered by the National Pork Producers Delegate Body and the National Pork Board. The Delegate Body (1) reviews the current assessment rate and recommends any changes to the Secretary, (2) determines each State's share of assessments collected in each State, and (3) nominates pork producers and importers for appointment by the Secretary to vacant positions on the Board.
Members of the National Pork Board (Board) are nominated by the industry and appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Members serve a vital role in overseeing the National Pork Board’s program operations. Board members do not have to be members of the Delegate Body to be nominated to the Board.
MEMBERSHIP: The Secretary of Agriculture appoints the Delegate Body members from pork producers who have been nominated through special elections or other USDA-approved selection processes in each State. Importers are selected from individuals nominated by eligible State organizations. Each of the 50 States may be represented by at least two Delegate Body members. States may appoint additional producer members based on each $400,000 of farm market value of porcine animals marketed from that State. Additional importer members may be appointed to the Delegate Body based on each $575,000 of market value of marketed porcine animals, pork, or pork products based on the annual average of imports in the most recent 3 calendar years. The 2015 Pork Act Delegate body consists of 154 pork producers representing 43 States and importers.
The Board is a group of 15 pork producers or importers, nominated by the Delegate Body appointed by the Secretary. The Board collects the checkoff funds and utilizes those dollars to implement programs of promotion, research and consumer information designed to enhance the marketing of U.S. pork and pork products.
NEXT TERM OF OFFICE: The Delegate Body members serve for terms of 1 year or until their replacements have been appointed. All Board members serve three-year terms. No board member can serve more than two consecutive three-year terms. Approximately one-third of the Board is appointed each year.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: In accordance with the statute, a nominee to the Delegate Body ultimately must be a pork producer or importer who has paid all assessments due.
NOMINATION PROCESS: Members of the National Pork Board are nominated by Delegate Body members who are pork producers or importers of porcine animals, pork or pork products nominated by their State pork producer associations or individually, then officially appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. All nominees are subject to USDA background review.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: If you would like additional information on the Pork Checkoff Program, please contact:
Kenneth Payne
Division Director
Marketing Programs Branch, Livestock and Seed, AMS, USDA
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Stop 0248
Washington, DC 20250-0224
PH. 202-720-1115
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