The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting applications from state cattle association or state general farm organizations interested in nominating beef, dairy or veal producers or importers to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board. Applications are due by Feb. 26, 2018.
The primary considerations in determining the eligibility of state cattle associations or state general farm organizations to participate in nominating individuals for board membership are:
- the association or organization represents a substantial number of producers that produce a substantial number of cattle in the state;
- the association or organization has a history of stability and permanency; and
- a primary or overriding purpose of the association or organization is to promote the economic welfare of cattle producers.
The primary considerations in determining the eligibility of importer organizations or associations to participate in nominating individuals for board membership are:
- the number and type of members represented (i.e., beef or cattle importers, etc.); annual import volume in pounds of beef and beef products and/or the number of head of cattle;
- the stability and permanency of the importer organization or association;
- the number of years in existence; and
- the names of the countries of origin for cattle, beef, or beef products imported.
Any importer organization and state cattle or state general farm organization or association that wants to be certified to nominate members to the board must complete an application (LPS-25) found at www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion/beef. After reviewing the application, USDA will notify the organization or association whether or not it has been certified. Organizations currently certified to nominate board members do not need to reapply.
For additional information regarding the certification process, contact Mike Dinkel, Research and Promotion Division, at (301) 352-7497, or via email at Micheal.Dinkel@ams.usda.gov.
The Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board is composed of 92 producers and 7 importers. The Secretary appoints board members from nominations submitted by certified organizations. Since 1966, Congress has authorized 22 industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
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