USDA is soliciting nominations of people to serve on the National Poultry Improvement Plan’s General Conference Committee (GCC). USDA seeks to replace three regional members and alternates from the North Atlantic, East North Central, Western regions, and Member-at-Large. The current terms for these four member positions expire in August 2024. We will accept nominations from organizations or individuals until June 30, 2024. Please contact Dr. Elena Behnke  to receive an AD-755 form.

Member selection occurs at the NPIP Biennial Conference in Providence, RI, Aug. 27-30, 2024, and will be determined by a majority vote of the NPIP delegates from the respective region. There must be at least two nominees for each position. To ensure the recommendations of the Committee and the needs of the diverse groups USDA serves have been considered, membership must include, to the extent practical, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and persons with limited English proficiency. At least one nominee from each of the three regions must have a demonstrated ability to represent an underrepresented group. The voting will be by secret ballot of official delegates from the respective region, and the results will be recorded.

The GCC is the Secretary of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on poultry health, established by statute (see 7 U.S.C. 8308) and governed by regulation. Committee procedures, including procedures for electing new members, are set forth at Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR) Part 147, Subpart E. The Committee serves as a forum for studying poultry health problems and, as necessary, makes specific recommendations to the Secretary on ways USDA can help the industry address these problems. The GCC also helps USDA plan, organize, and conduct the NPIP Biennial Conference. The GCC recommends whether the delegates to the Biennial Conference should consider new proposals and serve as a direct liaison between the NPIP and the U.S. Animal Health Association. The GCC consists of an elected member-at-large who is an NPIP participant and an elected member (and alternate) from the following regions:

• North Atlantic: CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PN, RI, and VT.
• South Atlantic: DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, PR, SC, VA, and WV.
• East North Central: IL, IN, MI, OH, and WI.
• West North Central: IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, and SD.
• South Central: AL, AR, KY, LA, MS, OK, TN, and TX.
• Western: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, and WY.