[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 37 (Thursday, February 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 9305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4726]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket #AMS-OA-99-1]


Notice of a Public Meeting of the USDA Research and Promotion 
(R&P) Task Force

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Secretary of Agriculture's formation of an 
interagency R&P Task Force in December 1998, the task force announces a 
forthcoming meeting with all R&P Boards, their staffs, primary 
contractors, and other interested parties.

DATES: March 8, 1999 at 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.; and March 9, 1999 at 
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST), in Room 107A 
Whitten Bldg, USDA Headquarters, 14th and Independence Ave, Washington, 
D.C. 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Robinson, Staff Director, Room 
3069 South Bldg, U.S. Department of Agriculture, AMS, OA, Washington, 
D.C. 20250; telephone (202) 720-4276; fax (202) 690-3967; email: 
Barbara__C__R[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The agenda of the meeting will follow a 
structure that includes 45 minutes of discussion with each board; a 
list of topics that the R&P task force would like to discuss with 
boards is included below. Boards are requested to call and schedule 
specific time on the agenda for discussion with the task force. Slotted 
times are available by contacting Dr. Barbara Robinson at the telephone 
listed above. Other interested parties are welcome to address these 
same topics in their oral statements, or in written statements sent to 
the above address. Media may attend, but may not request time for oral 
statements. Interested parties must call Dr. Robinson, in order to 
schedule oral statements not to exceed five (5) minutes before the task 
force on the afternoon of March 9, commencing at approximately 1 p.m. 
Oral statements will be accommodated on a ``first come-first serve 
basis,'' and will not extend beyond the scheduled adjournment time of 
4:00 p.m. on March 9, 1999. Any party may submit written statements 
within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register, 
to:Dr. Barbara Robinson/ AMS/Room 3069 South Bldg/Washington, D.C. 
20250 or, via electronic mail to: Barbara__C__R[email protected].

Selected Topics To Discuss  at March 8-9 Meeting

    1. Nominations Procedures--methods to ensure that nominations are 
solicited from the broadest groups for board representation; reaching 
out to a diverse group of members, such as limited resource/small/
minority producers, handlers, importers, public consumer 
representatives, minorities, etc.
    2. Continuance Referendum Procedures--most programs require that 
calls for referenda must occur with some specified percentage of 
signatures. In some cases volume thresholds are also used. Are the 
procedures/thresholds adequate to ensure that programs have majority 
support? Some programs call for automatic referenda on a periodic basis 
(e.g., every two years)--should there be consistent procedures across 
all programs? What is the best way to ensure that there is continued 
support for programs?
    3. Financial Management Issues: two areas of discussion here might 
be in: 1) the areas of financial controls, reviews, and audit 
procedures by Boards--are there consistent procedures used across the 
boards; relatedly, are there sufficient enforcement authorities to 
boards to ensure proper financial controls, or to ensure prompt payment 
of assessments; 2) the role of USDA in overseeing financial management 
by boards, and audits by USDA--can USDA be of better, more effective 
assistance in this area, to minimize problems with boards' financial 
management? How?
    4. Other Items * * * e.g., evaluation of effectiveness--how do 
boards ensure that their paying members (as well as the public, in some 
cases) are knowledgeable about the use of funds, and the effectiveness 
of promotion and research activities carried out by boards? Can USDA be 
of more assistance here? E.g., do boards engage in publishing their 
accomplishments, plans, or use such means as focus groups to solicit 
input and demonstrate planned activities and intended accomplishments?

    Dated: February 19, 1999.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 99-4726 Filed 2-23-99; 11:08 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-U