The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting applications from state cattle associations or state general farm organizations that want to be certified as eligible to nominate beef, dairy or veal producers or importers to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board. Applications are due by Feb. 22, 2016.
The primary considerations in determining the eligibility of state cattle associations or state general farm organizations to participate in making board nominations include:
- The association or organization’s total paid membership is comprised of at least a majority of cattle producers or the association or organization’s total paid membership represents at least a majority of the cattle producers in the state;
- 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 consideration in determining the eligibility of importer organizations or associations to participate in making board nominations include:
- 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 organization or association that wants to be certified to nominate beef, dairy, or veal producers to the board must complete an application for certification. The application can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion/beef. Upon review of the application, USDA will notify the organization or association whether or not it has been certified. Organizations currently certified to nominate do not need to reapply. Only those organizations that are not currently certified to submit nominations must complete and submit an official application to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service.
For additional information regarding the certification process, contact Mike Dinkel, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, Research and Promotion Division, at (301) 352-7497 or via email at[email protected].
The board is authorized by the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985. The Secretary of Agriculture selects the appointees nominated by certified organizations representing beef, veal, and dairy producers and importers.
Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, authorized by Congress and date back to 1966. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 research and promotion boards. They empower agricultural industries by establishing a framework for them to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, helping to ensure fiscal responsibility, program efficiency, and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.
