The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting applications from lamb producers, seedstock producers, feeders or first handlers organizations interested in nominating members to the American Lamb Board. Applications are due by Feb. 22, 2018.
The primary considerations in determining the eligibility of state, regional, or national organizations to participate in nominating individuals for board membership are:
- the membership of the organization consists primarily of producers, seedstock producers, feeders, or first handlers who market or handle a substantial quantity of lamb or lamb products; and
- a primary purpose of the organization is for the production or marketing of lamb or lamb products.
Any producer, seedstock producer, feeder or first handler organization or association that wants to be certified to nominate members to the board must complete an application (LPS-82) found at www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion/lamb. 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 Kevin Studer, Research and Promotion Division, at (202) 253-2380, or via email at Kevin.Studer@ams.usda.gov.
The American Lamb Board comprises of six American lamb producer representatives, three feeder representatives, three first handlers, and one seedstock producer. 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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