USDA Names Fluid Milk Board Members

WASHINGTON - Feb 6/07 - SNS -- The USDA named six incumbents and two new members to the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board.

Re-appointed to serve second terms are: Michael Francis Touhey, Jr., Franklin, Mass. (Region 1); Robert Bruce McCullough, San Antonio, Texas (Region 10); Jerry N. Tidwell, Pleasanton, Calif. (Region 13); and Randy Dean Mooney, Rogersville, Mo. (At-Large Processor).

Re-appointed to serve first terms after filling vacancies lasting less than 18 months are Charles L. Gaither, Jr., Asheville, N.C. (Region 4) and Teresa E. Webb, Wallington, N.J. (At-Large Processor).

Newly Appointed are: James B. Green, St. Paul, Minn. (Region 7) and Jay B. Simon, Stockton, Calif. (Region 14).

Terms for these appointees begin July 1, 2007, and expire June 30, 2010, except for Jay B. Simon who is filling a vacant position with less than 18 months remaining and whose term expires June 30, 2008. All appointees will be seated at the summer board meeting July 13-14, 2007.

The National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board is composed of 15 fluid milk processors from 15 geographic regions and five at-large members. At least three at-large members must be fluid milk processors and at least one must be from the general public. The Board was established by the Fluid Milk Promotion Act of 1990 to develop and administer a coordinated program of advertising and promotion to increase the demand for fluid milk products.

The national fluid milk program is financed by a mandatory 20-cent per hundredweight assessment on all fluid milk processed and marketed commercially in consumer-type packages in the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia. Processors who commercially process and market 3 million pounds or less per month, excluding those fluid milk products delivered to the residence of a consumer, are exempt from assessments.