Hakim Fobia (202)720-8998hakim.fobia@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, July 7, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations to fill 14 vacancies on the Peanut Standards Board. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will appoint individuals to serve terms of office that will end on June 30, 2011, June 30, 2012, and June 30, 2013.
Selected nominees will fill two vacant industry representative positions for the remainder of the term ending June 30, 2011; six producer and industry representatives currently serving the term that ended on June 30, 2009; and six producer and industry representatives currently serving the term that will end June 30, 2010.
The 18-member board consists of three producers and three industry representatives from each of the three producing regions: Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, and Florida); Southwest (Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico); and Virginia and North Carolina. The nomination process will replace producers and industry member positions for each region and two vacant industry representative positions.
USDA had previously requested nominations for the two vacancies (term ending June 30, 2011) and the six producer and industry representatives positions (term ended June 30, 2009) in a request for nominations that was published in the Federal Register on April 29, 2009. USDA is reissuing the notice in an effort to expand outreach to interested individuals.
Eligible individuals, organizations and groups are invited to submit their nominations. Nominations should be accompanied by a Peanut Standards Board Background Information form completed by the nominee. The form is available from USDA’s Website at: www.ams.usda.gov/PeanutStandardsBoard.
Written nominations and accompanying Peanut Standards Board background information forms should be sent to the DC Marketing Field Office. Nominations must be received on or before July 16, 2010. Notice of the request for nominations was published in the July 6, 2010, Federal Register.
For more information, contact Dawana J. Clark, DC Marketing Field Office, Mail Unit 155, 4700 River Road, Riverdale MD 20737; (301) 734-5243; fax, (301) 734-5275; or email dawana.clark@ams.usda.gov.
The industry population that pays the marketing and promotion assessment is diverse and the boards should reflect that diversity in the size of operations, experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. USDA sees the pursuit of diversity on these boards as an opportunity for embracing new ideas and growth that will enable the boards to better serve their industry.
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service – which the Peanut Standards Board advises on peanut quality issues – administers the regulations for peanut quality standards for domestic and imported peanuts.
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