00-21645. 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 [phone]; FAX [phone]; e-mail [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mark Falcone at [phone].

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.