Release No.: 077-15

Contact:

Sam Jones-Ellard (202) 660-2268

Samuel.jones@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2015- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced six appointments to the 15-member National Pork Board. Five appointees will each serve 3-year terms and one appointee will serve a 2-year term.

According to USDA’s Census of Agriculture statistics, there are 63,246 pork operations, representing about 66 million head of pigs. Top pork producing states include Iowa, North Carolina, Minnesota, Illinois and Indiana.

The five appointees were nominated by the National Pork Producers Delegate Body during its meeting in Kansas City, Missouri in March. The newly appointed members representing pork producers are: Dr. David Newman, Fargo, North Dakota; Pat FitzSimmons, Dassel, Minnesota; Bill Tentinger, LeMars, Iowa; Gary L. Asay, Osco, Illinois; and Kris Scheller-Stewart, King City, Missouri (2-year term). Member reappointed to the board is: Carl J. Link, Fort Recovery, Ohio.

Established under the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985, the board develops budgets and awards contracts to carry out a coordinated program designed to strengthen the position of pork in the marketplace.

Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, were 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. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal responsibility, program efficiency, and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.

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