The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for six individuals to serve on the Peanut Standards Board for terms of office ending June 30, 2014.

Selected nominees would replace three producer and two industry representatives who currently serve on the board and have terms of office that end June 30, 2011. Also, one individual would fill a vacant industry position. Each member will serve a three-year term.

The 18-member board has three producer and three industry representatives from each of the producing regions: Southeast (Alabama, Georgia, and Florida); Southwest (Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico); and Virginia and North Carolina. Nominees will fill producer and industry member positions from each region.

Eligible individuals, organizations and groups are invited to submit nominations, which must be accompanied by a completed Peanut Standards Board background information form. The form is available on USDA’s website at www.ams.usda.gov/PeanutStandardsBoard, or from Dawana J. Clark, D.C. Marketing Field Office, Mail Unit 155, 4700 River Road, Riverdale Md. 20737; telephone: (301) 734-5243; fax: (301) 734-5275; or e-mail: dawana.clark@ams.usda.gov.

Written nominations and accompanying Peanut Standards Board background information forms should be sent to the D. C. Marketing Field Office. Nominations must be received on or before June 11. Notice of the request for nominations was published in the June 1 Federal Register.

USDA welcomes membership on industry boards that reflects the diversity of the individuals served by the programs. USDA encourages all eligible women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to seek nomination for a seat on the Peanut Standards Board.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) administers the regulations for peanut quality standards for domestic and imported peanuts. The Peanut Standards Board advises AMS on peanut quality issues.