Source:  USDA, 6/13/17

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for candidates to fill 13 member and 13 alternate positions on the Cotton Board.

The Cotton Board represents Domestic cotton producers and importers. Nominations are made by certified producer organizations (CPO) and certified importer organizations (CIO). The CPOs and the CIOs will caucus to nominate two qualified persons for each open position representing their state. The Secretary of Agriculture then appoints members and alternates from the list of nominees.

Members and alternates serve staggered 3-year terms. Open positions this round will represent cotton producers from Arkansas, California/Nevada, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas. Nominees are also sought to fill vacancies for importers.

Appointees will serve terms that begin on Jan. 1, 2018, and end Dec. 31, 2020.
Producer caucuses will be held between July 6 and 20 as follows:

Louisiana

Thursday
July 6
10 a.m. CT

North Carolina

Monday
July 10
4 p.m. ET

Arkansas

Wednesday
July 19
8 a.m. CT

California

Wednesday
July 19
10:30 a.m. PT (following the Pima Matching)

Mississippi

Thursday
July 20
8 a.m. CT

Texas

Thursday
July 20
11 a.m. CT

Importers will caucus Tuesday, July 18 at 10 a.m. ET in Washington, D.C.
For more 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 Shethir.Riva@ams.usda.gov.

The cotton research and promotion program is authorized by the Cotton Research and Promotion Act of 1966. Since 1966, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 research and promotion boards that are industry-funded and empower agricultural industries with a framework to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.

Learn more on USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service Cotton Board webpage.