"These appointees represent a cross section of the industry, and I am confident that egg producers will be well served by them," said Secretary Vilsack.

The board administers an egg research and promotion program authorised by the Egg Research and Consumer Information Act of 1974. Terms on the board are staggered so that half of the membership is appointed each year in order to provide continuity in policy.

The board is composed of 18 members and 18 alternates representing six regions. The Secretary of Agriculture selects appointees from egg producers nominated by organisations representing the egg industry. All members and alternates will serve two-year terms.

Reappointed members and alternates, by region, are:

• North Atlantic states – Christopher M. Pierce, Annville, Pa., member; Julia A. Lough, East Winthrop, Maine, member; David N. Radlo, Bedford, Mass., alternate.
• East North Central states – Ronald (Tad) L. Gross, St. Henry, Ohio, member; Brian J. Winner, New Weston, Ohio, member; Thomas E. Hertzfeld I, Waterville, Ohio, alternate; William L. Glass, Boca Grande, Fla., alternate.
• West North Central states – Patricia J. Stonger, Waukesha, Wis., member; Brian S. Hayward, Warsaw, Ind., member; Ruth Ann Hendrix, Seymour, Ind., alternate.
• South Central states – Bruce L. Dooyema, Sioux Center, Iowa, member; Blair J. Van Zetten, Oskaloosa, Iowa, alternate.
• Western states – David W. Elbel, College Station, Texas, member.

Newly appointed members and alternates, by region, are:

North Atlantic states – Jesse C. Laflamme, Monroe, N.H., alternate. South Atlantic states – Andrew S. Reichman, Andrews, N.C., member; David T. Lathem, Athens, Ga., alternate. West North Central states – Jerald P. Wilkins, Thornton, Colo., alternate. Western states – Roy D. Patterson, Prosper, Texas, alternate.

The programme is funded entirely by a 10-cent per 30-dozen case assessment on eggs marketed by producers with flocks of more than 75,000 hens. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, an agency of the marketing and regulatory programmes mission area, monitors operations of the board.