WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2011 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture is asking milk producers and all interested parties to nominate candidates to serve on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Nominations must be submitted by March 16, 2012.
The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint 12 individuals from those nominated to succeed members whose terms expired Oct. 31, 2011. The 12 new members will serve terms ending Oct. 31, 2014.
USDA will accept nominations from the following regions: Region 1 (Alaska, Oregon and Washington); Region 3 (Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming); Region 4 (Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas); Region 5 (Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota); Region 6 (Wisconsin); Region 7 (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska); Region 8 (Idaho); Region 9 (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia); Region 10 (Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia); and Region 12 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont). One member will be appointed for each of Regions 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12, and two members will be appointed for each of Regions 4 and 6.
USDA established the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board under the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 to develop and administer a coordinated program of promotion, research and nutrition education. The 38-member 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 produced and marketed commercially, and a 7.5 cents per hundredweight assessment on milk, or equivalent thereof, on dairy products imported into the United States.
USDA welcomes membership on industry boards that reflects the diversity of the individuals served by the programs. USDA encourages all eligible women, minorities and persons with disabilities to seek nomination for a seat on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board.
For nominating forms and information, visit www.ams.usda.gov/dairy or contact Whitney A. Rick, Director, Promotion, Research, and Planning Division, Dairy Programs, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Room 2958-S, Stop 0233, Washington, D.C. 20250-0233; telephone (202) 720-6909; fax (202) 720-0285; or e-mail at whitney.rick@ams.usda.gov.
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