U. S. Department of Agirculture

      Washington, D. C. 20250

 

 

 

DEPARTMENTAL  REGULATION

 

NUMBER:

 1042-130

 

SUBJECT:

Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics

 

DATE:

April 3, 2007

 

OPI:

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1          PURPOSE/SCOPE                                                                   

 

a          The Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics was originally established by the Secretary of Commerce on July 16, 1962.  Initially chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, in January 1973, the committee is hereby rechartered in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the same Act, with General Services Administration’s concurrence.

 

b          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, along with its OMB allocated slot, to USDA when the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) received funding and responsibility for the census of agriculture beginning in fiscal year 1997.

 

c          The renewal of this Committee is in the public interest in accordance with the duties the law imposes on the Department.

 

d          The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Secretary on the conduct of the periodic censuses and surveys of agriculture, other related surveys, and the types of agricultural information to obtain from respondents.  The committee also prepares recommendations regarding the content of agriculture reports, and presents the views and needs for data of major suppliers and users of agriculture statistics.

 

e          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 agriculture statistics activities.

 

 

2          SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS/CANCELLATION

 

This regulation shall terminate 2 years from date of filing.  Departmental Regulation 1042-130, dated November 24, 2004 is superseded by this regulation.

 

 

3          OFFICERS AND MEMBERSHIP

 

a          The Committee, appointed by the Secretary, shall consist of 25 members representing a broad range of interests, including agricultural economists, rural sociologists, farm policy analysts, educators, State agriculture representatives, agriculture-related business and marketing experts, and members of major national farm organizations.

 

b          A representative of the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce, serves as an ex-officio member of the Committee.

 

c          A representative of the Economic Research Service, USDA, serves as an ex-officio member of the Committee.

 

d          Each member shall be appointed for a term of 2 years and may serve no more than 3 consecutive terms.

 

e          The Chairperson of the Committee shall be elected by members to serve a one-year term.

 

f           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 the Department, membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.

 

 

4          DUTIES

 

The duties of the Committee are solely advisory.  The Committee will make recommendations to the Secretary with regards to the agricultural statistics program of NASS, and such other matters as it may deem advisable, or which the Secretary, Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, or the Administrator of NASS may request.

 

 

5          ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATING COSTS

 

a          Members shall serve without compensation, but may receive reimbursement for travel expenses and per diem incurred in the performance of Committee duties as USDA travel regulations authorize.

 

b          The annual cost of operating the committee is estimated at $40,000 and 0.5 staff-years of support.

 

 

6          NUMBER AND FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS

 

The Committee shall meet at least annually.  All meetings are open to the public.

 

 

7          REPORTS/SUPPORT

 

a          The Committee will report through the Administrator of NASS.

 

b          Support to the Committee will be provided by the Administrator’s office.

 

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