Release No.: 111-16
WASHINGTON, June 15, 2016 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for candidates to serve on the Cotton Board composed of representatives of cotton producers and importers.
Representatives are selected by the Secretary of Agriculture from nominations submitted by certified producer organizations (CPO) and certified importer organizations (CIO), as outlined by the Cotton Research and Promotion Order.
USDA is seeking nominees to fill 17 member and 17 alternate positions for vacancies representing cotton producers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, as well as importers. These positions have terms that begin on Jan. 1, 2017, and end Dec. 31, 2019. Members and alternates serve staggered three-year terms with no term limits.
The CPOs and the CIOs will caucus to nominate two qualified persons for their respective states for each member and alternate member position, and the Secretary selects members and alternates from those nominations.
USDA welcomes membership on industry boards that reflects the diversity of the individuals served by the programs and encourages all eligible persons to seek nomination for a seat on the Cotton Board.
The cotton research and promotion program is funded by assessments on all domestically produced cotton and imports of foreign-produced cotton and cotton-containing products, and is authorized by the Cotton Research and Promotion Act of 1966. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service oversees operations of the board.
For nominating and caucus information, including organizations seeking certification, or for a list of CPOs and CIOs, contact Shethir M. Riva, Research and Promotion Staff, Cotton and Tobacco Program, AMS, USDA, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Va., 22406, telephone (540) 361-2726, facsimile (540) 361-1199, or email at Shethir.Riva@ams.usda.gov.
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