[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 9155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4968]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 40 / Friday, February 28, 1997 / 
Notices  

[[Page 9155]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Research, Education, and Economics


National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and 
Economics Advisory Board Meeting

AGENCY: Research, Education, and Economics, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 
92-463), the United States Department of Agriculture announces a 
meeting of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, 
and Economics Advisory Board.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary of Agriculture has asked the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics 
Advisory Board to obtain Stakeholder input on the priority issues for 
agricultural research, extension, education, and economics, and to 
establish an ongoing line of communication to the diverse stakeholder 
groups. The Advisory Board, which represents 30 constituent categories, 
as specified in the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 
1996 (Pub. L. 104-127, 110 Stat. 1156-1184), has scheduled a 
Stakeholder Symposium on March 25th in Washington, D.C. The Advisory 
Board has broadly defined ``stakeholder'' within the context of its 
activities as follows: ``any individual or group of individuals who 
have vested interested in, or are affected by, food and agricultural 
research, extension, education, and economics.''
    Approximately 150 individuals will participate in the Stakeholder 
Symposium, which represents one of several meetings being planned 
throughout the country to address the USDA Research, Education, and 
Economics (REE) draft Strategic Plans.
    The March 25th Stakeholder Symposium will focus on the content of 
the REE Strategic Plans (i.e., plans of Agricultural Research Service 
(ARS), Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service 
(CSREES), Economic Research Service (ERS), the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS), and REE mission area) and how well these 
plans contribute to the cross-cutting goals:
    (1) Agricultural System that is Highly Competitive in the Global 
Economy,
    (2) Safe and Secure Food and Fiber System,
    (3) Healthy, Well-Nourished Population,
    (4) Greater Harmony Between Agriculture and the Environment, and
    (5) Enhanced Economic Opportunity and Quality of Life for 
Americans.
    Stakeholder input to the Strategic Plans will be organized around 
the following panel sessions: (a) Plant Systems; (b) Animal Systems; 
(c) Nutrition, Food Quality, and Health; (d) Natural Resources and 
Environment; (e) Processes and New Products; (f) Markets, Trade, and 
Policy; and (g) Human Capacity Building.
    Each panelist will present a 10-minute formal statement on the 
Strategic Plans and how well they support the goals for USDA research, 
extension, education, and economics.
    The general meeting of the Advisory Board will be held March 26-27, 
1997. The meeting agenda includes: a report on the findings of the 
Stakeholder Symposium, a discussion of activities required under the 
FAIR Act of 1996, and the Board's recommendations for long-term agenda 
items. The Advisory Board will also begin discussions for its review 
and recommendations to the REE Implementation and Annual Performance 
Plans. The Advisory Board's Executive Committee and the REE Strategic 
Plan Working Group will provide progress reports to the Advisory Board. 
The membership of the newly formed agricultural facilities ``Strategic 
Planning Task Force'' will be announced. Invited speakers will provide 
the Advisory Board with an overview of the USDA National Research 
Initiative, USDA budget outlook, and farm concentration issues.

DATES: March 25, 1997, 8:15 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; March 26, 1997, 8:30 a.m.-
5:30 p.m.; and March 27, 1997, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

PLACE: Hotel Washington, Washington Room, 15th and Pennsylvania Avenue, 
NW, Washington, DC.

TYPE OF MEETING: Open to the public.

COMMENTS: The public may file written comments before or after the 
meeting with the contact person listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Hanfman, Executive Director, 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics 
Advisory Board, Research, Education, and Economics Advisory Board 
Office, Room 3918 South, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP: 2255, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-2255. Telephone: 
202-720-3684.

    Done at Washington, D.C. this 21st day of February 1997.
Catherine E. Woteki,
Acting Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 97-4968 Filed 2-27-97; 8:45 am]
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