[Federal Register: April 6, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 65)]
[Notices]               
[Page 16693-16694]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06ap99-29]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service

 
Notice of Invitation for Nominations to the Advisory Committee on 
Agriculture Statistics

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION: Solicitation of nomination for Advisory Committee on 
Agriculture Statistics Membership.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App. 2, this notice announces an invitation from the Office of 
the Secretary of Agriculture for nominations to the Advisory Committee 
on Agriculture Statistics.
    Effective October 1, 1996, responsibility for the census of 
agriculture program was transferred to USDA. Responsibility for the 
Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics was transferred from the 
Department of Commerce to USDA when the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) received funding and responsibility for the 
census of agriculture beginning in fiscal year 1997. The 
reestablishment of this Committee is in the public interest in 
accordance with the duties the law imposes on USDA.
    The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Secretary of 
Agriculture on the scope, timing, content, etc. of the periodic 
censuses and surveys of agriculture, other related surveys, and the 
types of information to obtain from respondents concerning agriculture. 
The Committee also prepares recommendations regarding the content of 
agriculture reports and presents the views and needs for data for major 
suppliers and users of agriculture statistics.
    The Committee draws on the experience and expertise of its members 
to form a collective judgment concerning agriculture data collected and 
the statistics issued by NASS. This input is vital to keep current with 
shifting data needs in the rapidly changing agricultural environment 
and keep NASS informed of emerging developments and issues in the 
agriculture community that can affect agricultural statistics 
activities.
    The Committee, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, shall 
consist of 25 members representing a broad range of disciplines and 
interests, including, but not limited to, representatives of national 
farm organizations, agricultural economists, rural sociologists, farm 
policy analysts, educators, State agriculture representatives, and 
agriculture-related business and marketing experts.
    Terms of membership on the Committee will be staggered every 2 
years. Initially, approximately one-half of the members selected by the 
Secretary in this, the first Advisory Committed on Agriculture 
selection process, will service a 1-year term and the other half a 2-
year term. Members selected after this year will serve a full 2-year 
term. The Chairperson of the Committed shall be selected by members to 
serve a 1-year term.
    Equal opportunity practices, in line with USDA policies, will be 
followed in all membership appointments to the Committee. To ensure 
that the recommendations of the Committee have taken into account the 
needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership shall include, 
to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to 
represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.
    Persons nominated for the Advisory Committee on Agriculture 
Statistics will be required to complete and submit an Advisory 
Committee Membership Background Information questionnaire.
    The duties of the Committee are solely advisory. The Committee will 
make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture with regards to 
the agricultural statistics program of NASS, and such other matters as 
it may deem advisable, or which the Secretary of Agriculture, Under 
Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, or the Administrator 
of NASS may request. The Committee will meet at least annually. All 
meetings are open to the public. Committee members will be reimbursed 
for official travel expenses only.

DATES: Nominations must be received by May 6, 1999 to be assured of 
consideration.

Nominations, Additional Information, or Comments

    Nominations should include the following information: name, title, 
address, telephone number, and organization, and should be e-mailed to 
hq__aa@nass.usda.gov, faxed to (202) 720-9013, OR telephoned to Rich 
Allen, Associate Administrator, NASS, at (202) 720-4333. Each person 
nominated is required to complete an Advisory Committee Membership 
Information questionnaire. This form may be requested by telephone, 
fax, or e-mail using the information above. Forms are also available on 
the Internet through the ``Agency Information,'' ``Advisory Committee 
on Agriculture Statistics'' options of the NASS Home Page at

[[Page 16694]]

http://www.usda.gov/nass. Completed questionnaires may be faxed to the 
number above, mailed, or completed and e-mailed directly from the 
Internet side.
    All mailed correspondence should be sent to Rich Allen, Associate 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 4117 
South Building, Washington, DC 20250-2000.
    Send questions, comments, and requests for additional information 
to the e-mail address, fax number, or address listed above.

    Signed at Washington, DC, March 31, 1999.
Donald M. Bay,
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
[FR Doc. 99-8381 Filed 4-5-99; 8:45 am]
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