[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 212 (Tuesday, November 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59275-59276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29346]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Advisory Committee for Agriculture Statistics

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to reestablish at USDA.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposes to 
reestablish the Advisory Committee for Agriculture Statistics. 
Effective October 1, 1996, responsibility for the census of agriculture 
program was transferred to the National Agricultural Statistics Service 
(NASS) at USDA from the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of 
Commerce. Effective February 2, 1997, NASS also received the 
transferred program positions and staff from the Bureau of the Census, 
U.S.

[[Page 59276]]

Department of Commerce. Responsibility for the Advisory Committee on 
Agriculture Statistics, which is a discretionary committee, was 
transferred, along with its allocated slot, to USDA with the census of 
agriculture program.
    The Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics has provided input 
and direction to the census of agriculture program since the committee 
was first established on July 16, 1962. It has been particularly 
critical to have the committee as a valuable resource to USDA during 
the transfer of the census from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
    The purpose of the committee is to make recommendations on census 
of agriculture operations including questionnaire design and content, 
publicity, publication plans, and data dissemination. Comments are 
requested on the establishment of this committee at USDA.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 7, 1999 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Donald M. Bay, 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4117 South 
Building, Washington, D.C. 20250-2000, (202) 720-2707.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. appendix), notice is hereby given that the Secretary of 
Agriculture intends to reestablish the Advisory Committee on 
Agriculture Statistics, hereafter referred to as Committee. The purpose 
of the Committee is to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the 
conduct of the periodic censuses and surveys of agriculture, other 
related surveys, and the types of agricultural information to obtain 
from respondents. The committee also prepares recommendations regarding 
the content of agriculture reports, and presents the views and needs 
for data of major suppliers and users of agriculture statistics.
    The Secretary of Agriculture has determined that the work of the 
Committee is in the public interest and relevant to the duties of USDA. 
No other advisory committee or agency of USDA is performing the tasks 
that will be assigned to the Committee.
    The Committee, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, shall 
consist of 25 members representing a broad range of disciplines and 
interests, including, but not limited to, agricultural economists, 
rural sociologists, farm policy analysts, educators, State agriculture 
representatives, and agriculture-related business and marketing 
experts.
    A representative of the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, serves as an ex-officio member of the Committee.
    The committee draws on the experience and expertise of its members 
to form a collective judgment concerning agriculture data collected and 
the statistics issued by NASS. This input is vital to keep current with 
shifting data needs in the rapidly changing agricultural environment 
and keep NASS informed of emerging developments and issues in the food 
and fiber sector that can affect agriculture statistics activities.
    The Secretary of Agriculture invites individuals to comment on the 
reestablishment of this committee at USDA.
    Equal opportunity practices, in line with USDA policies, will be 
followed in all membership appointments to the Committee. To ensure 
that the recommendations of the Committee have taken into account the 
needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership shall include, 
to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to 
represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.

    Signed at Washington, D.C., October 27, 1998.
Reba Evans,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-29346 Filed 11-2-98; 8:45 am]
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