Release No.: 214-14

Contact:

Greg Rosenthal (202) 720-2739

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the appointment of 13 members to the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. All appointees’ terms will begin Nov. 1, 2014, and end Oct. 31, 2017.

Newly appointed members are: James E. Webb, Delta, Colo. (Region 3); William R. Anglin, Bentonville, Ark. (Region 4); Kathleen A. Skiba, North Branch, Minn. (Region 5); William J. Herr, Greenwood, Wis. (Region 6); and John S. Ballard, Gooding, Idaho (Region 8).

Reappointed to serve second terms were: Kima L. Simonson, Deer Park, Wash. (Region 1); Lynda S. Foster, Fort Scott, Kan. (Region 4); Amber Horn-Leiterman, Brillion, Wis. (Region 6); Larry R. Shover, Delhi, Iowa (Region 7); Urban A. Mescher, Maria Stein, Ohio (Region 9); Celeste D. Blackburn, Jefferson City, Tenn. (Region 10); Harold Howrigan, Sheldon, Vt. (Region 12); and Kenneth E. Meyers, Warren, N.J. (Importer).

The Dairy Board was established under the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983, as amended, to develop and administer a coordinated program of promotion, research and nutrition education. The 38-member Dairy Board is authorized to design programs to strengthen the dairy industry’s position in domestic and foreign markets. The program is financed by a mandatory 15-cent per hundredweight assessment on all milk marketed commercially and a 7.5-cent per hundredweight assessment, or equivalent thereof, on milk and dairy products imported into the United States.

The Secretary selected the appointees from nominations submitted by eligible producer organizations, general farm organizations and qualified dairy products promotion, research or nutrition education programs. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service monitors the operation of the Dairy Board.

Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, authorized by Congress and date back to 1966. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 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. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders. For information on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, please contact Whitney A. Rick by phone at (202) 720-6961, or e-mail: Whitney.Rick@ams.usda.gov.