Sam Jones-Ellard (202) 660-2268Samuel.jones@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2012—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced four appointments to the 2013 Lamb Promotion, Research, and Information Board. Each appointee will serve three year terms beginning immediately.
"These appointees represent a cross section of the lamb industry and I am confident that the industry will be well served by them," said Vilsack.
The newly appointed board member is Angelo Theos, Meeker, Colorado, representing producers. Reappointed to the board are: Betty Sampsel, Stanford, Montana, representing producers; Daniel Lippert, Blomkest, Minnesota, representing feeders; and William Anderson, Brownsville, Oregon, representing first handlers.
The board is composed of six producers, three feeders, one seed stock producer, three first-handlers, and a member of the general public. The Secretary of Agriculture appoints approximately one-third of all board members each year.
Established under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 and the Lamb Promotion, Research, and Information Order, the board is financed by a mandatory assessment of one-half cent per pound on ovine animals of any age, including ewes and rams, sold by producers, seedstock producers, feeders and exporters. Also, an assessment of thirty cents per head must be paid by first-handlers. Assessments began on July 1, 2002.
Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, authorized by Congress, and date back to 1966, when Congress passed the Cotton Research and Promotion Act. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 20 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.
#
Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at http://www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter @USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).