The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking nominees for the United Sorghum Checkoff Program Board to fill five seats with terms expiring in December 2026. Five seats available The call for nominees is part of the AMS oversight role for commodity research and promotion boards and targets producers who want a direct role in shaping sorghum marketing and research priorities.
Nominees are needed for two at-large positions plus seats representing Kansas, South Dakota and Texas, with the South Dakota seat reflecting a recent reapportionment. Eligible nominees must be sorghum producers in the United States who own or share in the ownership and risk of loss of sorghum production. Candidates must be nominated by a certified producer organization and submit a completed application; June 1, 2026 deadline applies for receipt of nominations.
Applications and nomination materials are available on the AMS United Sorghum Checkoff Program webpage and at sorghumcheckoff.com, and AMS staff can provide guidance on certification and submission requirements. The secretary of agriculture will select appointees from the list of nominees submitted by certified producer organizations. For more information, producers may contact Barbara Josselyn at (202) 713-6918 or [email protected].
Board duties and oversight
The checkoff board was established to maintain and expand markets for sorghum through research and promotion activities that support industry-driven priorities. The panel operates as a 13-member board charged with recommending and overseeing projects funded by producer assessments aimed at developing new markets and strengthening existing ones.
Congress first authorized industry-funded research and promotion boards in 1966; AMS now provides oversight for 21 such boards across commodities, with funding derived from industry assessments to ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity. Those boards typically contract research, marketing and education projects intended to boost domestic and export demand for their commodities.
How to apply
Producers seeking appointment should work with a certified producer organization to prepare a nomination package and completed application, then submit materials per the instructions on the AMS page. Nominations must be received by June 1, 2026.
Photo - hpj.com
