[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45617-45618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22976]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
National Commission on Small Farms; Meetings
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture by Departmental Regulation No.
1043-43 dated July 9, 1997, established the National Commission on
Small Farms (Commission) and further identified the Natural Resources
Conservation Service to provide support to the Commission. The purpose
of the Commission is to gather and analyze information regarding small
farms and ranches and recommend to the Secretary of Agriculture a
national policy and strategy to ensure their continued viability. The
chair of the Commission has decided that the Commission may hold
subcommittee meetings in order to gather public input from different
regions of the country. The Commission's next meeting is September 10
and 11, 1997.
PLACE, DATE AND TIME OF MEETING: The Commission's third public meeting
is September 10 and 11 at the Jefferson Auditorium, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. The meeting
is open to the public. On September 10, the Commission will meet from
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to hear public testimony. On September 11, the
Commission will meet from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to conduct Commission
business. This will include subcommittees of the Commission meeting
separately during the day. These meetings are open to the public and
nearby locations will be announced and posted at the Jefferson
Auditorium on September 11.
We are seeking testimony from various sources to arrive at
conclusions and recommendations that will ensure the continued
viability of small farms. The Commission requests that testimony and
comments include ideas and recommendations based on the following
questions. Concerns or problems of individual farms that relate to
specific USDA programs should be addressed only in the context of a
recommendation for the Commission to consider.
The questions are:
1. How are current USDA programs helping or hurting the viability
of small farms?
2. What are the needs of small farms in terms of financing,
research, extension, marketing and risk management and other areas?
What recommendations would you make about these needs that could be
part of a long-range strategy to ensure the continued viability of
small farms?
3. Are there innovative non-governmental or state efforts to assist
beginning and smaller independent farms that might be replicated or
supplemented at the Federal level?
4. What changes in USDA policy or practices are needed to make USDA
programs in the areas of credit, research, extension, marketing, risk
management and other areas more effective in enabling small farms to
survive and thrive?
5. What new programs could provide effective and affordable support
for small farmers as commodity programs are phased out?
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6. What can be done to assist beginning farmers and farm workers to
become farm owners?
7. What role should the Federal government play to ensure a
diversified, decentralized and competitive farm structure?
8. What do small farms contribute to your community and your state?
9. What other generic issues pertaining to small farms should the
Commission consider?
Interested parties wishing to testify at these subcommittee
meetings must contact the office of the National Commission on Small
Farms by September 5, 1997, in order to be placed on a list of
witnesses. Oral presentations will be limited to 5 minutes. Individuals
will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Due to limited
time, each organization or group is asked to have only one
representative testify before the Commission on September 10. Written
statements will be accepted at the meeting or may be mailed or faxed to
the Commission office by September 12, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Written statements should be sent to National Commission on
Small Farms, USDA, P.O. Box 2890, Room 5237, South Building,
Washington, D.C. 20013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Yezak Molen, Director,
National Commission on Small Farms, at the address above or at (202)
690-0648 or (202) 690-0673. The fax number is (202) 720-0596.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Commission is to gather
and evaluate background information, studies, and data pertinent to
small farms and ranches, including limited-resource farmers. On the
basis of the review, the Commission shall analyze all relevant issues
and make findings, develop strategies, and make recommendations for
consideration by the Secretary of Agriculture toward a national
strategy on small farms. The national strategy shall include, but not
be limited to: changes in existing policies, programs, regulations,
training, and program delivery and outreach systems; approaches that
assist beginning farmers and involve the private sectors and
government, including assurances that the needs of minorities, women,
and persons with disabilities are addressed; areas where new
partnerships and collaborations are needed; and other approaches that
it would deem advisable or which the Secretary of Agriculture or the
Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service may request the
Commission to consider.
The Secretary of Agriculture has determined that the work of the
Commission is in the public interest and within the duties and
responsibilities of USDA. Establishment of the Commission also
implements a recommendation of the USDA Civil Rights Action Report to
appoint a diverse commission to develop a national policy on small
farms.
Dated: August 25, 1997.
Pearlie S. Reed,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-22976 Filed 8-27-97; 8:45 am]
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