Source: USDA, 8/4/11

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced five appointments to the Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Board.

"These appointees represent a cross section of the sorghum industry and I am confident that sorghum producers will be well served by them," said Vilsack.

Appointed members representing sorghum producers are: Louise Rigdon, At-large from Oklahoma; Stewart Weaver, At-large from Arkansas; Adam Baldwin, Kansas; John Devoracek, Nebraska; and Dale Murden, Texas.

The board is structured so that the state with the largest production is allocated five positions. The state with the second largest production is allocated three positions. The state with the third largest production is allocated one position. There are four at-large national positions for which at least two representatives must be appointed from states other than the top three sorghum producing states. The maximum number of producers from one state is limited to six. The appointees will serve terms of three years.

The 13-member board is authorized by the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996. The Secretary selected the appointees from sorghum producers nominated by certified sorghum producer organizations. The mandatory program is funded at the rate of 0.6 percent of the net market value on grain sorghum and 0.35 percent of the net market value of sorghum forage. The program is intended to be a national, coordinated, self-help marketing program designed to strengthen the position of sorghum in the marketplace, maintain and expand existing domestic and foreign markets and uses for sorghum, and develop new markets and uses for sorghum.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service monitors operation of the board.