WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2008 -- Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner today reappointed one member and one alternate member to serve on the National Peanut Board.

Charles Tennyson Edens, member, Sumter, S.C., and Edward M. Rast Jr., alternate member, Cameron, S.C., will serve three year terms of office beginning Jan. 1, 2008 and ending on Dec. 31, 2010.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight and monitors the operations of the National Peanut Board in accordance with the Commodity Promotion Research, and Information Act of 1996 and the Peanut Promotion, Research and Information Order. Under the order, domestic producers pay an assessment at the rate of 1 percent of the total value of all farmers' stock peanuts sold.

More information about the research and promotion programs can be found at http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/rpb.html .