National & World Ag News Headlines EPA Announces First-Ever Ag Advisory Committee USAgNet - 10/18/2007 Continuing efforts to strengthen relations with the agriculture community, the Environmental Protection Agency announced the establishment of the first-ever Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. The panel is being formed under the guidelines of the National Strategy for Agriculture, and it will advise the administrator on environmental policy issues impacting farms, ranches and rural communities and operate under the rules of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. "We at EPA appreciate that agriculture isn't just the producer of the food, agriculture is the producer of environmental and economic solutions," said Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "This committee provides an opportunity to improve dialogue between EPA and the farming community. By sitting down at the same table, together we can do what's good for agriculture and good for our environment." The committee will meet approximately twice yearly and is intended to consist of approximately 25 members representing: (1) large and small farmers, ranchers and rural communities; (2) rural suppliers, marketers and processors; (3) academics and researchers who study environmental issues impacting agriculture; (4) tribal agricultural groups; and (5) environmental and conservation groups. EPA's request for member nominations will be posted in the Federal Register. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and other federal agencies will also be invited to nominate members. In other agency actions, this past summer under the National Agriculture Strategy, Administrator Johnson presided over EPA's first-ever face-to-face dialogue with leaders of the agriculture industry. The agency also announced a new Web site containing an easy and succinct look-up tool listing federal environmental regulations that could potentially apply to agriculture. Copyright © 2009 - USAgNet.com. All Rights Reserved.