Notice of the Peanut Standards Board

AGENCY:

Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice; request for nominations.

SUMMARY:

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Peanut Standards Board (Board) for the purpose of advising the Secretary on quality and handling standards for domestically produced and imported peanuts. The initial Board was appointed by the Secretary and announced on December 5, 2002. USDA seeks nominations for individuals to be considered for selection as Board members for terms of office ending June 30, 2011, June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013. USDA values diversity. In an effort to obtain nominations of diverse candidates, USDA encourages the nomination of men and women of all racial and ethnic groups. Selected nominees sought by this action would fill two currently vacant industry representative positions for the remainder of terms of office ending June 30, 2011, six producer and industry representatives who are currently serving for the term of office that ended June 30, 2009, and six producer and industry representatives who are currently serving for the term of office that will end June 30, 2010. The Board consists of 18 members representing producers and industry representatives. USDA had previously requested nominations for the two vacancies (terms ending June 30, 2011) and the six producer and industry representatives positions (terms ended June 30, 2009) in a Request for Nominations that was published in the Federal Register on April 29, 2009. USDA is reissuing the notice in an effort to expand outreach to interested individuals.

DATES:

Written nominations must be received on or before July 16, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

Nominations should be sent to Dawana J. Clark, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, Unit 155, 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737: Telephone: (301) 734-5247; Fax: (301) 734-5275; E-mail: Dawana.Clark@ams.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 1308 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Peanut Standards Board (Board) for the purpose of advising the Secretary regarding the establishment of quality and handling standards for all domestic and imported peanuts marketed in the United States. The Farm Bill requires the Secretary to consult with the Board before the Secretary establishes or changes quality and handling standards for peanuts.

The Farm Bill provides that the Board consist of 18 members, with three producers and three industry representatives from the States specified in each of the following producing regions: (a) Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, and Florida); (b) Southwest (Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico); and (c) Virginia/Carolina (Virginia and North Carolina).

For the initial appointments, the Farm Bill required the Secretary to stagger the terms of the members so that: (a) One producer member and peanut industry member from each peanut producing region serves a one-year term; (b) one producer member and peanut industry member from each peanut producing region serves a two-year term; and (c) one producer member and peanut industry member from each peanut producing region serves a three-year term. The term “peanut industry representatives” includes, but is not limited to, representatives of shellers, manufacturers, buying points, marketing associations and marketing cooperatives. The Farm Bill exempted the appointment of the Board from the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The initial Board was appointed by the Secretary and announced on December 5, 2002.

USDA invites those individuals, organizations, and groups affiliated with the categories listed above to nominate individuals for membership on the Board. Nominees sought by this action would fill two currently vacant industry representative positions for the remainder of terms of office ending June 30, 2011, one from the Southeast and one from the Virginia-Carolina peanut producing regions. Nominees sought by this action would also replace twelve positions, two producers and two industry members from each peanut producing region who served for the term of office that ended June 30, 2009 and who served for the term of office that will end June 30, 2010. New members filling the two current vacancies would serve the remaining 3-year term of office ending June 30, 2011. New members filling the positions expiring on June 30, 2009, and June 30, 2010, would serve for 3-year terms of office ending June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013. USDA had previously requested nominations for the two vacancies (terms ending June 30, 2011) and the six producer and industry representatives positions (terms ended June 30, 2009) in a Request for Nominations that was published in the Federal Register on April 29, 2009. USDA is reissuing the notice in an effort to expand outreach to interested individuals.

Nominees should complete a Peanut Standards Board Background Information form and submit it to Mrs. Clark at the address provided in the ADDRESSES section above. Copies of this form may be obtained at the Internet site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/PeanutStandardsBoard,, or from Mrs. Clark. USDA seeks a diverse group of members representing the peanut industry.

Equal opportunity practices will be followed in all appointments to the Board in accordance with USDA policies. To ensure that the recommendations of the Board have taken into account the needs of the diverse groups within the peanut industry, membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated abilities to represent the interests of racial and ethnic minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and limited resource agriculture producers.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7958.