[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?

[[Page 45618]]

    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]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P