Johanns Announces Lamb Promotion Board Appointments

WASHINGTON.- Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns today appointed four members to the Lamb Promotion, Research, and Information Board. All appointees will serve three-year terms, beginning Jan. 26, 2008.

Appointed and reappointed members are: Nick L. Forrest (appointed) of Ohio and Lorin L. Moench Jr. (reappointed) of Utah, representing producers; and James R. Drake (appointed) of Colorado, representing feeders, and James P. Teitscheid (appointed) of Colorado, representing first handlers.

The 13-member board is composed of six producers, three feeders, one seedstock producer, and three first-handlers. The Secretary of Agriculture appoints about one-third of all board members each year.

Established under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 and the Lamb Promotion, Research, and Information Order, the board is financed by a mandatory assessment of one-half cent per pound on ovine animals of any age, including ewes and rams, sold by producers, seedstock producers, feeders, and exporters. Also, an assessment of 30 cents per head must be paid by first-handlers. Assessments began on July 1, 2002.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service monitors operations of the board.