WASHINGTON - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed seven members to serve on the Softwood Lumber Board. Members will serve a 3-year term of office beginning Jan. 1, 2015.

New appointments include manufacturers Fritz R. Mason, Peachtree City, Ga., and Adrian Blocker, Gig Harbor, Wash. Both members will represent the U.S. South.

Re-appointed manufacturers include Andrew W. Miller, Portland, Ore., and George R. Emmerson, Bella Vista, Calif. Both members will represent the U.S. West.

New importers include Ted Seraphim, B.C., Canada, and Don Demens, B.C., Canada. Both members will represent Canada West. Charles Tardif, Quebec, Canada, was re-appointed. He will represent Canada East.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of the Softwood Lumber Board in accordance with the Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order. To be eligible to serve on the board, domestic manufacturers and importers must manufacture or import to the United States 15 million board feet or more of softwood lumber annually.

The Softwood Lumber Research and Promotion Program is administered by board members who are selected by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. USDA encourages board membership 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 Softwood Lumber Board.

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 agricultural industries, including the forest products industry, 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 helps to ensure fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.

For more information about research and promotion programs, visit www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC