The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of 12 members to the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. All appointees’ terms will begin immediately and end Oct. 31, 2019.
Newly appointed members are: Arlene J. Vander Eyk (Region 2); Stephen D. Maddox (Region 2); Manuel C. Caballero (Region 3); Connie M. Seefeldt (Region 6); Bobby L. Combs (Region 10); Jennifer L. Heltzel (Region 11); and Bret J. Bossard (Region 12).
Reappointed to serve second terms were: Brian O. Medeiros (Region 2); Carol L. Ahlem (Region 2); Christopher J. Brazil (Region 2); Eddie S. Schaap (Region 4); and Cheryl L. Chapin (Region 9).
The Dairy Board was established under the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 to develop and administer a coordinated program of promotion, research and nutrition education. The 37-member Dairy Board is authorized to design programs to strengthen the dairy industry’s position in domestic and foreign markets.
Appointees were selected from nominations submitted by eligible producer organizations, general farm organizations and qualified dairy products promotion, research or nutrition education programs. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) monitors the operation of the Dairy Board.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 industry-funded research and promotion boards. They empower farmers and ranchers to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity for participating stakeholders.
For information on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, please contact Whitney A. Rick by phone at (202) 720-6961 or e-mail at Whitney.Rick@ams.usda.gov.
National Dairy Promotion & Research Board
The Dairy Research and Promotion Program, also known as the Dairy Checkoff Program, is a national producer and importer program for dairy product promotion, research, and nutrition education. To fund the program, U.S. dairy farmers pay a 15-cents- per hundred-weight assessment on their milk and importers pay 7.5 cents per hundred-weight on dairy products imported into the U.S. The program was created and is administered under the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 (pdf) and the Dairy Promotion and Research Order (pdf).
Organizational Structure
The Dairy Board is comprised of 38 members. Thirty-six dairy producer members represent 12 geographic regions within the United States and two members represent dairy importers. Dairy Board members serve 3-year terms, with no member serving more than 2 consecutive terms. Members are selected by the Secretary from nominations submitted by dairy producer organizations, dairy importer organizations, general farm organizations, and Qualified Programs.
- View a list of current members (pdf)
- Visit the National Dairy Board Site
- View the Report to Congress