Lon Hatamiya, administrator of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, a marketing and regulatory programs agency, said organizations not previously certified may apply. Organizations already certified need not reapply, he said. The 111-member Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board was established by the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985. The board administers a coordinated program designed to expand foreign and domestic markets and uses for beef.
Membership is comprised of cattle producers and beef importers.
Producer representation on the board is based on the number of cattle in each state. Importer representation is based on volume of cattle, beef and beef products imported. States producing too few cattle to be represented alone are grouped into units for the purpose of allocating board positions. Notice of the opportunity to request applications for certification will be published in the Jan. 29 Federal Register.