[Federal Register: August 24, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 165)]
[Notices]
[Page 51588]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24au00-42]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 51588]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Farm Service Agency
Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.
ACTION: Notice requesting nominations.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture intends to renew the charter of
the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (Committee).
The Committee provides advice to the Secretary on ways to encourage
Federal and State beginning farmer programs to provide joint financing
to beginning farmers and ranchers. Nominations of persons to serve on
the Committee are invited.
DATES: Nominations will be accepted through September 25, 2000, and
should be submitted to Mark Falcone, Designated Federal Official (DFO)
for the Committee, at the address below.
ADDRESSES: Mark Falcone, DFO for the Advisory Committee on Beginning
Farmers and Ranchers, Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 5438-S, STOP 0522,
Washington, DC 20250-0522; telephone (202) 720-1632; FAX (202) 690-
1117; e-mail mark_falcone@wdc.fsa.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Falcone at (202) 720-1632.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 5 of the Agricultural Credit
Improvement Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-554) required the Secretary of
Agriculture to establish the Committee for the purpose of advising the
Secretary on the following:
(1) the development of a program of coordinated financial
assistance to qualified beginning farmers and ranchers under section
309(i) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (Federal and
State beginning farmer programs provide joint financing to beginning
farmers and ranchers); (2) methods of maximizing the number of new
farming and ranching opportunities created through the program; (3)
methods of encouraging States to participate in the program; (4) the
administration of the program; and (5) other methods of creating new
farming or ranching opportunities.
The law requires that members include representatives from the
following groups: (1) The Farm Service Agency (FSA); (2) State
beginning farmer programs (as defined in section 309(i)(5) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act); (3) commercial lenders;
(4) private nonprofit organizations with active beginning farmer or
rancher programs; (5) the Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service; (6) Community colleges or other educational
institutions with demonstrated experience in training beginning farmers
or ranchers; and (7) other entities or persons providing lending or
technical assistance to qualified beginning farmers or ranchers. The
Secretary has also appointed farmers and ranchers to the Committee.
Departmental Regulation 1042-119 dated November 25, 1998, formally
established the Committee and designated FSA to provide support. FSA is
now accepting nominations of individuals to serve for a 2-year term on
the Committee, which is comprised of 18 individuals. One-third of the
existing Committee membership will be replaced when the Committee
charter expires on November 25, 2000. The Committee will be
reestablished with the 12 old and six new members thereafter.
Reappointments are made to assure effectiveness and continuity of
operations. The duration of the Committee is indefinite. No member,
other than a USDA employee, can serve for more than 6 consecutive
years.
Appointments to the Committee will be made by the Secretary of
Agriculture. Equal opportunity practices, in line with USDA policies,
will be followed in all appointments to the Committee. To ensure that
the recommendations of the Committee have taken into account the needs
of the diverse groups served by the Department, membership should
include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated
ability to represent minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and
senior citizens.
The Committee meets at least once a year and all meetings are open
to the public. Committee meetings provide an opportunity for members to
exchange ideas on ways to increase opportunities for beginning farmers
and ranchers through Federal-State partnerships. Members discuss
various issues and draft numerous recommendations, which are submitted
to the Secretary in writing.
Signed in Washington, D.C. on August 18, 2000.
Parks Shackleford,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 00-21645 Filed 8-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 2000/08/24 EST