Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed 12 members and 12 alternate members to serve on the Cotton Board. All appointees will serve 3-year terms ending on Dec. 31, 2017.
 

"I am pleased that these individuals have agreed to provide their time and expertise," said Secretary Vilsack. “I am confident that cotton producers and importers will be well served by them.”
 

The re-appointed members are: Marty E. White, Jonesboro, Ark.; Aaron A. Barcellos, Los Banos, Calif.; George G. LaCour, Jr., Morganza, La.; James C. Robertson, Jr., Indianola, Miss.; David M. Grant, Garysburg, N.C. ; Tom M. Hegi, Petersburg, Texas; Debra R. Barrett, Edroy, Texas; Rodger C. Glaspey, Fresno, Calif.; Patricia M. Reber, Plymouth, Minn.; Carlos F. J. Moore, Naples, Fla.; Maureen E. Gray, New York, N.Y. and Deborah M. Gregg, Irvine, Calif.

The re-appointed consumer advisor is Marshall Cohen, East Moriches, N.Y.
 

Secretary Vilsack also selected Heidi R. Goold as an alternate importer member for position #14 whose term expires on December 31, 2015, and Sigifredo Valverde as an alternate member whose term expires on December 31, 2016.
 

Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, were authorized by Congress, and date back to 1966, when Congress passed the Cotton Research and Promotion Act. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 research and promotion boards. They empower farmers, ranchers, and other stakeholders to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.