National Peanut Board Members and Alternates Appointed [August 31, 2011, News Release]

Secretary Vilsack Names Members and Alternates to the National Peanut Board [November 16, 2009, News Release]

Peanut Producers Vote to Continue the Peanut Promotion, Research, and Information Order [May 14, 2009, News Release]

Peanut Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Continuance Referendum. Docket Number: AMS-FV-08-0110; FV-08-704. EFFECTIVE: February 20, 2009. Referendum Period: April 2, 2009 – April 30, 2009. [February 20, 2009, Notice][Comment]

Peanut Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Amendment to Primary Peanut-Producing States and Adjustment of Membership. Docket Number: AMS-FV-08-0001; FV-08-701 FR. EFFECTIVE: July 9, 2008. [July 09, 2008, Notice]

The American Farm Bureau Federation submitted a proposal for a national promotion program for domestic peanuts on June 15, 1998. The proposal and proposed referendum procedures were published in the Federal Register on November 6, 1998. AMS conducted a referendum from May 24 through June 11, 1999. The voting period was later extended to July 2, 1999. In the referendum, over 66 percent of the eligible producers voting approved the program. Therefore, the program was implemented by a final rule on July 30, 1999. The program was the first to be implemented under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 [7 U.S.C. 7411-7425]. A continuance referendum is required every five years. A continuance referendum was held April 2 to 20, 2009. The referendum passed with 89 percent of those voting favoring the program.

The order provides for the Board to administer the Peanut Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order) under AMS supervision. The Board is authorized to collect assessments from domestic producers. The funds collected are used to conduct generic promotion, research, and consumer and producer information designed to strengthen peanuts’ position in the marketplace and to maintain, develop, and expand markets for peanuts.

Under the program, all peanut producers pay an assessment of 1 percent of the total value of all farmers stock peanuts. The assessments are remitted to the Board by handlers and, for peanuts under loan, by the Commodity Credit Corporation.

The Board’s budget for the period of November 1, 2011, through October 31, 2012, is $6.9 million. The Board reimburses AMS and USDA’s Office of the General Counsel for expenses incurred in administering the program.

The Board is composed of 11 producer members and their alternates: one member and alternate from each primary peanut producing state (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia) and one at-large member and alternate collectively from the minor peanut producing states. The members and alternates are nominated by producers or producer groups.

The Board has nine full-time employees and the office is located in Atlanta, Georgia.