FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2000
SC Growers Appointed to National Peanut Board
(WASHINGTON)---Two South Carolina peanut producers have been appointed to the ten-member National Peanut Board. Robert E. Scott of Aiken, SC, was appointed as a two-year term member, and James W. Mole, Jr. of Brunson, SC, was named as a two-year alternate member of the board.
The National Peanut Board, authorized by the Peanut Promotion, Research, and Information Order, became effective on August 1, 1999. The order was the first to be authorized under the Commodity Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act of 1996. The Act gives the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to establish research and promotion programs for agricultural commodities. The 1996 Act was developed to finance an effective and coordinated program of generic promotion, information and related research designed to maintain and expand markets for peanuts.
Under the order, domestic peanut producers pay an assessment rate of 1% of the total value of all farmers’ stock peanuts sold. This is expected to generate about $10 million in annual revenue for the peanut industry.
Scott and Brunson were appointed from nominations submitted by certified peanut producer organizations across the country. The first meeting of the National Peanut Board, which will administer the order, will be held in Washington in March.
For more information about the National Peanut Board, call Billy Cox, Agriculture Marketing Service, 202-720-8998. For more information about the South Carolina Peanut Board, call Brad Boozer, 803-734-2225.
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