§4806 National Pork Producers Delegate Body

Summary

Set up a National Pork Producers Delegate Body, with the Secretary appointing its members within 60 days after the order starts. Members are pork producers chosen from State nominations and importers chosen by the Secretary. State associations pick nominees using a Secretary-approved method that gives at least one week’s public notice and equal access to producers who paid assessments and did not ask for refunds; if a State has no association, the Secretary will tell the State how to nominate. Each State gets at least two producer members, with more based on “shares.” For 1986, one share = $400,000 of farm market value; after that, one share = $1,000 of assessments collected (rounding rules apply). Share totals give each State 2, 3, or 4 members at set ranges, and one extra member for about each 300 shares over 1,000. Importer shares used a $575,000 rule for 1986 and $1,000 per $1,000 of importer assessments after that. Importers get three members for the first 1,000 shares and one more for each 300 shares over 1,000. Each member’s vote equals the shares for their group divided by the number of members in that group. A quorum is members holding a majority of votes, and a majority of votes cast wins. Members serve one-year terms until successors are named. The Delegate Body picks a chairman at its first annual meeting; after that, the Board’s President is chairman. Members are not paid but may be reimbursed for travel. Each year the body meets to nominate people to the National Pork Board (at least 23 names the first year, and thereafter at least 1.5 names per vacancy rounded up); nominations must be made by an in-person majority vote. The Delegate Body also recommends assessment rates and decides how assessment money collected in a State is split among State associations.