The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominations for positions on the United Soybean Board to fill 42-member vacancies and seven alternate member vacancies.
Vacancies for producer member positions will occur in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Eastern Region and Western Region. There are alternate vacancies in Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Eastern Region and Western Region.
A 2018 reapportionment increased the board’s membership from 73 to 78 members, representing 29 states and two regions. Alabama, Kentucky, North Dakota, South Dakota and Tennessee members have increased by one each.
The deadline for nominations is May 3, 2019. Any soybean producer within the United States who owns or shares the ownership and risk of loss of soybean production is eligible for nomination. A soybean producer must be nominated by a qualified state soybean board and complete an application. The Secretary of Agriculture appoints members from the nominated producers.
For a list of qualified state soybean boards in your state or region and the nomination form, visit the United Soybean Board page on the AMS website. For more information about the board, visit the their website, unitedsoybean.org, or contact Barbara Josselyn at (202) 690-2611, Barbara.Josselyn@usda.gov, fax (202) 720-1125 or mail Research and Promotion Division, Livestock and Poultry Program; AMS, USDA, Room 2610-S, STOP 0251; 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20250-0251.
The board administers a Research and promotion program authorized by the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act. 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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