The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking nominees for the United Soybean Board to succeed 16 members and four alternate members with terms that expire in December 2021. The deadline for nominations is April 18, 2021.
Nominees are needed to succeed members in Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Virginia, and to succeed alternate members in Georgia, New Jersey, South Carolina and Eastern Region.
Soybean producers within the United States who own or share the ownership and risk of loss of soybean production are eligible for nomination. A soybean producer must be nominated by a qualified state soybean board and complete an application. The Secretary of Agriculture will select individuals from the nominations submitted.
A list of qualified state soybean boards, the nomination form and information about the United Soybean Board are available on the AMS United Soybean Board webpage and on the board’s website, unitedsoybean.org. For more information, contact Agricultural Marketing Specialist Sarah Aswegan at (515) 201-5190 or Sarah.Aswegan@usda.gov.
AMS policy is that the diversity of the board should reflect the diversity of their industries in experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. When submitting nominations, the industry must consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.
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.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender