[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 48 (Thursday, March 11, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11585-11586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5495]


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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: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App. II, 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 various 
beginning farmer issues.

DATES: The public meetings will be held March 24-25, 2004. The first 
meeting, on March 24, 2004, will start at 8:30 a.m., Eastern Standard 
Time (EST) and end at 5:30 p.m. EST. The second meeting, on March 25, 
2004, will begin at 8 a.m. EST and end by 4 p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: All meetings will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1000 H 
Street, Washington, DC, telephone (202) 582-1234. Written requests to 
make oral presentations must be sent to: 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, 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 (the Secretary) 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 (7 
U.S.C. 1929). Under the program, Federal and State beginning farmer 
programs provide financial assistance 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.
    The Committee meets at least once a year and all meetings are open 
to the public. The duration of the Committee is indefinite. Earlier 
meetings of the Committee, beginning in 1999, provided an opportunity 
for members to exchange ideas on ways to increase opportunities for 
beginning farmers and ranchers. Members discussed various issues and 
drafted numerous recommendations, which were provided to the Secretary.
    Agenda items for the March, 2004 meetings include:
    (1) The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which was 
authorized by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. 
L. 107-171) (2002 Farm Bill), but has not been funded, and the 
Extension Risk Management Education Program (both programs under the 
jurisdiction of USDA's Cooperative, State, Research, Education and 
Extension Service);
    (2) Risk Management Education and Outreach Programs, along with 
crop insurance issues concerning participating insurance companies 
(under the jurisdiction of USDA's Risk Management Agency);
    (3) Various beginning farmer and rancher conservation issues 
authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill (under the jurisdiction of USDA's 
Natural Resources Conservation Service);
    (4) FSA's beginning farmer programs, borrower training program, and 
streamlining of forms and regulations; and
    (5) The Kellogg Foundation's involvement in providing assistance to 
new immigrant and refugee farmers.
    Attendance is open to all interested persons but limited to space 
available. Anyone wishing to make an oral statement should submit a 
request in

[[Page 11586]]

writing (letter, fax, or e-mail) to Mark Falcone at the above address. 
Statements should be received no later than March 19, 2004. 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 1:15 p.m. EST on 
March 24, 2004. 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 
March 19, 2004.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on March 2, 2004.
James R. Little,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 04-5495 Filed 3-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P