[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 85 (Friday, May 2, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23426-23427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10899]


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FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Part 613

RIN 3052-AC20


Eligibility and Scope of Financing

AGENCY: Farm Credit Administration.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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[[Page 23427]]

SUMMARY: The Farm Credit Administration (FCA or agency) announces a 
public meeting to hear your views about whether and how we should 
revise our regulations governing eligibility and scope of financing for 
farmers, ranchers, and aquatic producers or harvesters who borrow from 
Farm Credit System institutions that operate under titles I or II of 
the Farm Credit Act of 1971, as amended (Act) and our definition of 
``moderately priced'' rural housing.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on June 26, 2003, in McLean, 
Virginia, 22102-5090 (703) 883-4056.

ADDRESSES: The FCA will hold the public meeting at our headquarters 
location at 1501 Farm Credit Drive, McLean, Virginia at 9 a.m. eastern 
daylight savings time. You may submit requests to appear and present 
testimony for the public meeting by electronic mail to ``[email protected],'' through the Pending Regulations section of FCA's Web 
site, ``www.fca.gov,'' or through the government-wide 
``www.regulations.gov'' portal. You may also submit requests to Robert 
E. Donnelly, Acting Director, Regulation and Policy Division, Office of 
Policy and Analysis, Farm Credit Administration, 1501 Farm Credit 
Drive, McLean, Virginia 22102-5090 or by facsimile to (703) 734-5784.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mark L. Johansen, Policy Analyst, Office of Policy and Analysis, Farm 
Credit Administration, McLean, VA 22102-5090, (703) 883-4498, TTY (703) 
883-4434,

 or

Richard Katz, Senior Attorney, Office of General Counsel, Farm Credit 
Administration, McLean, VA 22102-5090, (703) 883-4020, TTY (703) 883-
4020.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    We started this rulemaking in response to two petitions that asked 
us to repeal the scope of financing regulations in Sec.  613.3005. One 
petitioner also asked us to modify our definition of ``moderately 
priced'' rural housing in Sec.  613.3030(a)(4). The goal of this 
rulemaking is to explore how our regulations can become more responsive 
to the needs of all eligible ranchers, and aquatic producers or 
harvesters (collectively referred to as ``farmers'') and non-farm rural 
residents within the boundaries of the Act. We are publishing an 
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) in this issue of the 
Federal Register. In this document, we are announcing that we will hold 
a public meeting so you have another forum to present your views to us.

II. Topics

    At the hearing, we will ask that you answer the same questions we 
asked in the ANPRM:
    1. Current Sec.  613.3000(a)(1) defines a bona fide farmer, 
rancher, or aquatic producer as a person who either owns agricultural 
land, or is engaging in the production of agricultural products. Do you 
think the FCA should retain or change this definition? If you favor 
changing this definition, please offer specific recommendations.
    2. What limits, if any, should FCA regulations place on lending for 
farmers' other credit needs?
    3. How should we regulate access to the other credit needs of 
eligible farmers who derive most of their income from off-farm sources? 
Do you favor retaining the current regulatory distinction between full-
time and part-time farmers? If not, what would be a better approach?
    4. Should we change our definition of ``moderately priced'' rural 
housing in Sec.  613.3030(a)(4)? If you favor changing the definition, 
please offer specific recommendations.

III. Request To Present Testimony

    Anyone wishing to present testimony in person may notify us by June 
21, 2003, or register to speak on the day of the meeting. A request to 
speak should provide the name, address, and telephone number of the 
person wishing to testify and the general nature of the testimony. 
Requests to provide testimony in person will be honored in order of 
receipt.
    Parties who register to speak on the day of the meeting may be 
invited to provide their testimony if time permits. If more people wish 
to testify than time permits, we will accept written statements for the 
record for 30 calendar days following the date of the public meeting.
    Please limit oral testimony at the meeting to 10 minutes per person 
and allow 5 minutes for follow-up questions. At the public meeting, we 
will also accept, for the record, written comments on questions and 
issues raised in the ANPRM or any other comments that attendees may 
have on the subject of eligibility and scope of financing for farmers, 
ranchers, and aquatic producers and harvesters and the definition of 
``moderately priced'' rural housing.
    You may also wish to submit written statements or detailed 
summaries of the text of your testimony. Written comments that you wish 
to submit to supplement your testimony should be presented to us by the 
close of the public meeting.
    Written copies of the testimony, along with a recorded transcript 
of the proceedings, will be included in our official public record. A 
transcript of the public meeting and any written statements submitted 
to the agency will be available for public inspection at our office in 
McLean, Virginia.

IV. Special Accommodations

    The meeting is accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for 
sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be received 
by FCA's Office of Communications and Public Affairs at (703) 883-4056, 
(TTY (703) 883-4056) by June 21, 2003.

    Dated: April 29, 2003.
Jeanette C. Brinkley,
Secretary, Farm Credit Administration Board.
[FR Doc. 03-10899 Filed 5-1-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6705-01-P