The U.S. Department of Agriculture has appointed five pork producers to the 15-member National Pork Board. The five were selected from eight pork producers nominated by the National Pork Board Delegate Body during its March meeting in St. Louis, MO.

The newly appointed board members include Conley Nelson, Algona, IA; and Karen Richter, Montgomery, MN. The reappointed board members are Roy Henry, Longford, KS; Alan Wilhoite, Lebanon, IN; and Brian Zimmerman, Beatrice, NE.

The appointees will serve three-year terms.

The Pork Board was established by the Pork Promotion, Research and Consumer Act of 1985, through which the board develops budgets and awards contracts to implement a coordinated program to strengthen pork’s place in the marketplace.

The mandatory pork checkoff program is funded by an assessment of 0.40% of the market value of all hogs sold in the United States, and a similar amount assessed on imported, hogs, pork and products.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service oversees the operation of the board.