Released May 12, 2009

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture is asking dairy producer and farm organizations to nominate candidates to serve on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Nominations must be submitted by June 5.

The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint 12 individuals from those nominated to succeed members whose terms expire Oct. 31, 2009. The 12 new members will serve 3-year terms beginning Nov. 1, 2009, and ending Oct. 31, 2012.

USDA will accept nominations from the following regions: Region 1 (Oregon and Washington); Region 2 (California); Region 3 (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, 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 9 (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia); Region 11 (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania); and Region 12 (New York). The secretary will appoint one member per region, with the exception of Region 2 (California) and Region 6 (Wisconsin) with two appointments each.

The National Dairy Promotion and Research Board was established under the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 to develop and administer a coordinated program of promotion, research, and nutrition education. The 36-member board is authorized to design programs to strengthen the dairy industry's position in domestic and foreign markets. The national program is financed by a mandatory 15-cent per hundredweight assessment on all milk marketed commercially by dairy producers.

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 board.

For nominating forms and information, contact Whitney A. Rick, Chief, Promotion and Research Branch, Dairy Programs, AMS, USDA, Room 2958-S, Stop 0233, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-0233; telephone (202) 720-6909; fax (202) 720-0285; or E-mail at whitney.rick@ams.usda.gov or http://www.ams.usda.gov/dairy.

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Contacts: Becky Unkenholz, (202) 720-8998, becky.unkenholz@usda.gov

Billy Cox, (202) 270-8998, billy.cox@usda.gov