[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 58 (Friday, March 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 15890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7278]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Public Meetings of Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and 
Ranchers

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is issuing this notice to advise 
the public that meetings of the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers 
and Ranchers (Committee) will be held to discuss ways to increase new 
farming and ranching opportunities for these producers, including the 
review of proposals and recommendations drafted at previous meetings.

DATES: The public meetings will be held April 11-12, 2000, from 8:30 
a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Westin Crown Center Hotel, 1 Pershing Road, 
Kansas City, Missouri (telephone (816) 474-4400). All times noted are 
Central Standard Time (CST).

ADDRESSES: Mark Falcone, Designated Federal Official for the Advisory 
Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, Farm Service Agency, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 5438-S, 
STOP 0522, Washington, DC 20250-0522; telephone (202) 720-1632; FAX 
(202) 690-1117; e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Falcone at (202) 720-1632.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 5 of the Agricultural Credit 
Improvement Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-554) required the Secretary of 
Agriculture to establish the Committee for the purpose of advising the 
Secretary on the following: (1) The development of a program of 
coordinated financial assistance to qualified beginning farmers and 
ranchers required by section 309 (i) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (Federal and State beginning farmer programs provide 
joint financing to beginning farmers and ranchers); (2) methods of 
maximizing the number of new farming and ranching opportunities created 
through the program; (3) methods of encouraging States to participate 
in the program; (4) the administration of the program; and (5) other 
methods of creating new farming or ranching opportunities.
    Departmental Regulation 1042-119 dated November 25, 1998, formally 
established the Committee and designated FSA to provide support. The 
Committee is comprised of 16 members appointed by the Secretary. 
Members represent the following groups: (1) FSA; (2) State beginning 
farmer programs; (3) commercial lenders; (4) private nonprofit 
organizations with active beginning farmer programs; (5) the 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service; (6) 
educational institutions with demonstrated experience in training 
beginning farmers or ranchers; (7) other entities providing lending or 
technical assistance to qualified beginning farmers or ranchers; and 
(8) farmers and ranchers. The Committee meets at least once a year and 
all meetings are open to the public. The duration of the Committee is 
indefinite.
    The initial meetings of the Committee, held August 31-September 2, 
1999, provided an opportunity for members to exchange ideas on ways to 
increase opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers through 
Federal-State partnerships and to encourage more State participation. 
Members discussed various issues and drafted numerous recommendations, 
six of which the Committee determined were priorities and were 
submitted to the Secretary in writing. During the April meetings, 
members will discuss the Secretary's response to the six 
recommendations and review other draft proposals. Guest speakers from 
the Iowa State University's Beginning Farmer Center and the National 
Council of State Agricultural Finance Programs will address relevant 
issues.
    Attendance is open to all interested persons but limited to space 
available. Anyone wishing to make an oral statement should submit their 
request in writing (letter, fax, or e-mail) to Mark Falcone at the 
above address. Statements should be received no later than April 6, 
2000. Requests should include the name and affiliation of the 
individual who will make the presentation and an outline of the issues 
to be addressed. The floor will be open to oral presentations beginning 
at 1:00 p.m. CST on April 11, 2000. Comments will be limited to 5 
minutes, and presenters will be approved on a first-come, first-served 
basis.
    Persons with disabilities who require special accommodations to 
attend or participate in the meetings should contact Mark Falcone by 
April 6, 2000.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on March 17, 2000.
Keith Kelly,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 00-7278 Filed 3-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P