[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48449-48450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19961]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Invitation for Nominations to the Advisory Committee on 
Agriculture Statistics

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), USDA.

ACTION: Solicitation of nominations for Advisory Committee on 
Agriculture Statistics membership.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App. 2, this notice announces an invitation from the Office of 
the Secretary of Agriculture for nominations to the Advisory Committee 
on Agriculture Statistics.
    The Advisory Committee was established by the Secretary of 
Agriculture on November 25, 1998. The purpose of the Committee is to 
advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the scope, timing, content, etc. 
of the periodic censuses and surveys of agriculture, other related 
surveys, and the types of information to obtain from respondents 
concerning agriculture. The Committee also prepares recommendations 
regarding the content of agriculture reports and presents the views an 
needs for data of major suppliers and users of agriculture statistics.
    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 issues in the agriculture community 
that can affect agriculture statistics activities.
    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, representatives of national 
farm organizations, agricultural economists, rural sociologists, farm 
policy analysts, educators, State agriculture representatives, and 
agriculture-related business and marketing experts.
    Members serve staggered 2-year terms, with terms for half of the 
committee members expiring in any given year. Members can serve up to 3 
terms for a total of 6 consecutive years. The Chairperson of the 
Committee shall be elected my members to serve a 1-year term.
    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.
    Persons nominated for the Advisory Committee on Agriculture 
Statistics will be required to complete and submit an Advisory 
Committee Membership Background Information questionnaire.
    The duties of the Committees are solely advisory. The Committee 
will make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture with regards 
to the agricultural statistics program of NASS, and such other matters 
as it may deem advisable, or which the Secretary of Agriculture, Under 
Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, or the Administrator 
of NASS may request. The Committee will meet at least annually. All 
meetings are open to the public. Committee members will be reimbursed 
for official travel expenses only.

DATES: Nominations must be received by September 7, 2000 to be assured 
of consideration.

Nominations, Additional Information, or Comments

    Nominations should include the following information: name, title, 
address, telephone number, and organization, and should be e-mailed to 
[email protected], faxed to (202) 720-9013, OR telephone to Rich 
Allen, Associate Administrator, NASS, at (202) 720-4333. Each person 
nominated is required to complete an Advisory Committee Membership 
Information questionnaire. This form may be requested by telephone, 
fax, or e-mail using the information above. Forms will also be 
available on the Internet through the ``Agency Information,'' 
``Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics'' options of the NASS 
Home Page at http://www.usda.gov/nass. Completed questionnaires may be 
faxed to the number above, mailed, or completed and e-mailed directly 
from the Internet site.
    All mailed correspondence should be sent to Rich Allen, Associate 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Services, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4117 
South Building, Washington, D.C. 20250-2000.
    Send questions, comments, and requests for additional information 
to the e-mail address, fax number, or address listed above.


[[Page 48450]]


    Signed at Washington, D.C., August 2, 2000.
R. Ronald Bosecker,
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
[FR Doc. 00-19961 Filed 8-7-00; 8:45 am]
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