[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 237 (Friday, December 10, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 69222-69223] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-32012] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Office of the Chief Economist Notice of Appointment of the Advisory Committee on Small Farms AGENCY: Office of the Chief Economist, USDA. ACTION: Notification of appointment to the Advisory Committee on Small Farms ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary of Agriculture, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, announces members appointed to the Advisory Committee on Small Farms. Nineteen members were appointed from nominations of more than 100 well-qualified individuals, representing owners and operators of small farms, ranches and woodlots and the diverse groups USDA programs serve. Four of the appointed members served on the USDA's National Commission on Small Farms whose term expired in July 1999. Inclusion of previous Commission members will ensure the continued consideration and implementation of the recommendations made by the Commission in its report, ``A Time to Act.'' Equal opportunity practices were followed in appointing committee members. To ensure that the recommendations of advisory committee take into account the needs of the diverse groups served by the Department, membership includes, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women and persons with disabilities The following appointments to the Advisory Committee on Small Farms have been made: Dr. James Harness, will serve as chair of the Committee. He is the Director of Special Programs and Associate Extension Administrator of Alcorn State University in Fayette, Mississippi, and member of the National Commission on Small Farms; Dayle Larue Aldridge, Director of Small Farms Outreach for the Oklahoma Landowners and Tenants Association in Taft, Oklahoma; Jon W. Anderson, Executive Secretary at the Vermont Department of Agriculture, Food and Markets in Montpelier, Vermont; Karen S. Armstrong-Cummings, Director, Commodity Growers Cooperative Association in Frankfort, Kentucky and member of the National Commission on Small Farms; Suzanne L. Bertrand, Small Farms Special Project Coordinator, Heifer Project International in Little Rock, Arkansas; Marion Long Bowlan, Farmer and Executive Director of Pennsylvania Farm Link, Inc. in Manheim, Pennsylvania and member of the National Commission on Small Farms; Don R. Crittenden, Farmer/Rancher, Cherokee National Tribal Council Member in Taklequah, Oklahoma; Harold Eugene Garrett, Professor and Director of the Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri; Helen Gonzalez, Farmer and Director of Farmers Feed Cooperative, St. Croix, Virgin Islands; Luz Bazan Gutierrez, President, Washington Association of Minority Entrepreneurs, Inc., in Yakima, Washington; Neil D. Hamilton, Director of Agricultural Law Center and Professor of Law, Drake University Law School in Waukee, Iowa; Golden J. Hardy, Farmer and member of Jefferson County Farm Service Agency Committee in Beaumont, Texas; Archilus L. Hart, Assistant to the Commissioner of Agriculture on Small Farms Agricultural Policy in Knightdale, North Carolina; Edgar J. Hicks, President, DHV Inc., a farmers commodities corporation in Omaha, Nebraska; Majorie Jarrett, Rancher in Wray, Colorado; Calvin R. King, Sr., Founder and Executive Director, Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation in Aubrey, Arkansas; George L. Siemon, Farmer and CEO, Organic Valley Cooperative in Viroqua, Wisconsin; Ranuir Singh, Fruit farmer in Marysville, California; Thomas Joseph Trantham, Jr., Dairy farmer in Pelzer, South Carolina and member of the National Commission on Small Farms. Committee members will serve two-year terms. In the event of a vacancy, the Secretary will appoint a new member as appropriate and subject to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The duties of the Committee are solely advisory. The Committee will monitor government and private sector actions, policy and program proposals that relate to small farms, ranches and woodlots, including limited- resource farms, ranches and woodlots, and evaluate the impact such actions and proposals may have upon their viability and economic livelihood. The Committee will review USDA programs and strategies to implement small farm policy, advise the Secretary on actions to strengthen USDA programs; and evaluate other approaches that the Committee would deem advisable or which the Secretary of Agriculture or the Director of Sustainable Development and Small Farms may request the Committee to consider. The Committee will advise the Secretary through an annual report and other means as necessary and appropriate. The Committee will hold at least one public meeting per year, and conduct working sessions and teleconference calls as determined by the Chair. [[Page 69223]] Committee members will serve without pay. Reimbursement of travel expenses and per diem costs shall be made to Committee members who would be unable to attend Committee meetings without such reimbursement. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions should be e-mailed to [email protected] or [email protected], faxed to 202-720-0443, or telephoned to Alfonzo Drain, 202-720-3238; all mailed correspondence should be sent to Alfonzo Drain, Office of the Chief Economist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 112-A, Jamie L. Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-310. Dated: December 1, 1999. Keith Collins, Chief Economist, Office of the Chief Economist. [FR Doc. 99-32012 Filed 12-9-99 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-KG-M