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(NewsDakota.com/USDA) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominees for the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. The deadline for nominations is April 28.

From the nominees, the Secretary of Agriculture will appoint thirteen individuals to succeed members whose terms expire on Oct. 31. Newly appointed members will serve three-year terms from Nov. 1 through October 31, 2026. The Secretary of Agriculture will also appoint one individual to fill a vacancy, with the term ending October 31, 2024.

The USDA is seeking nominees for:

– One seat for Region 1 (Alaska, Oregon and Washington)

– One seat for Region 2 (California and Hawaii) (Vacant seat)

– One seat for Region 3 (Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming)

– Two seats for Region 4 (Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas)

– One seat for Region 5 (Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota)

– Two seats for Region 6 (Wisconsin)

– One seat for Region 7 (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska)

– One seat for Region 8 (Idaho)

– One seat for Region 9 (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia)

– One seat for Region 10 (Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia)

– One seat for Region 12 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont)

– One seat for an Importer

Nominees must be dairy producers who produce milk in the region for which they are nominated, and nominees for the importer position must be dairy importers. The 37-member board consists of 36 dairy producers from 12 regions and one dairy importer. Nomination forms are available on the AMS National Dairy Promotion and Research Board webpage.

The Board is industry-funded and supports the marketing and promotion of dairy products. Since 1966, Congress has authorized industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight to 22 boards. The oversight ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity and is paid for by industry assessments.