The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for the Softwood Lumber Board to fill seats for six members whose terms expire Dec. 31, 2024. Nomination applications for the seats are due Feb. 12, 2024. Appointed members will serve three-year terms beginning January 1, 2025, and ending Dec. 31, 2027.
The Softwood Lumber Board is seeking nominees for:
Four domestic manufacturers:
- One company of any size representing the U.S. South (flex seat)
- One small company representing the U.S. South
- Two large companies representing the U.S. West
Two importers:
- One large company representing Canada West
- One company of any size representing Canada East (flex seat)
Nominees may seek nomination to the board for all open seats for which they are eligible.
Applications are available at softwoodlumberboard.org, or by contacting Maureen Pello, Vice President Operations, Softwood Lumber Board at (503) 632-9933 or by email at mpello@softwoodlumberboard.org; or Katie Cook, Marketing Specialist, USDA at (202) 720-8085 or by email at katie.cook@usda.gov.
The current 14-member board includes 10 domestic manufacturers and four importers. More information about the board is available on the Softwood Lumber Board webpage on the AMS website.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight of 22 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
AMS policy is that diversity of the board should reflect the diversity of its industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender