Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today wrote to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in support of the nomination of Wesley L. Grau of Grady to the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board.

In a letter to USDA Secretary Edward Schafer, Bingaman said Grau's educational and ranching background make him an ideal candidate to serve on the 104-member cattleman's board, which works to expand foreign and domestic markets and uses for beef.

"I believe Mr. Grau has the background and qualifications necessary to serve as a member of the Cattleman's Beef Promotion and Research Board.  He holds a Bachelors of Science in Ag Economics and a minor in Animal Science.  He has extensive experience in the areas of animal health and immunity, including genetic and DNA testing.  He is an experienced seed stock producer, and as the owner of a cattle operation for 47 years, has had a considerable impact of beef produced in the Southwest.  He was honored as Marketer of the Year by the state department of agriculture.  He has also served as the president of his local school board and as a member of the New Mexico State Legislature, where he was a member of the Agriculture Committee," the letter states.

Representation on the board is based on the number of cattle in each state.  Importer representation is based on volume of cattle, beef and beef products imported.  Those states producing too few cattle to be represented alone are grouped into units.

The USDA Secretary will make a final decision later this year.