[Federal Register: October 11, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 198)]
[Notices]
[Page 63375]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11oc02-35]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Farm Service Agency
Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.
ACTION: Notice requesting nominations.
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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, and other methods of creating new
farming and ranching opportunities. Nominations of persons to serve on
the Committee are invited.
DATES: Nominations will be accepted through November 12, 2002, 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., 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. One-
third of the Committee membership was replaced when the Committee
charter was reestablished on January 15, 2001. Approximately one-third
of the 19 existing members will be replaced when the charter is renewed
in January 2003. FSA is now accepting nominations of individuals to
serve for a 2-year term on the Committee. 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.
Nominations are being sought through the media, the Federal
Register, and other appropriate methods. Persons nominated for the
Committee will be required to complete and submit an Advisory Committee
Membership Background Information Questionnaire (Form AD 755). The
questionnaire is available on the Internet at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/
dafl/Downloads/ad755.pdf. Questionnaires can be completed on-line.
However, nominees must print their completed forms from an Adobe PDF
file and mail or fax them to the above address or fax number. The form
may also be requested by telephone, fax, or e-mail. All inquiries about
the nomination process and submissions of the AD 755 should be made to
Mark Falcone at the addresses and numbers listed above.
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 and provide advice on ways to increase opportunities for
beginning farmers and ranchers. Members discuss various issues and
draft recommendations, which are submitted to the Secretary in writing.
Signed in Washington, DC, on October 4, 2002.
Teresa C. Lasseter,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 02-25923 Filed 10-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P