[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 98 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29474-29475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10210]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Notice of Solicitation for Membership to the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory 
Board

AGENCY: Research, Education, and Economics, USDA.

ACTION: Solicitation for membership.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the 
United States Department of Agriculture announces solicitation for 
nominations of individuals to fill 10 vacancies on the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory 
Board (the Board). A nomination letter should be submitted to USDA and 
indicate the specific membership category or categories that the 
nominee is qualified to represent. Each nominee must fill out an AD-755 
Form, called ``Advisory Committee Membership Background Information.'' 
This form may be obtained from the contact person below or may be 
printed out from the following Web site: http://www.nareeeab.com by 
selecting ``Nominations'' and then clicking on ``Form AD-755.'' All 
nominees will be vetted before consideration for appointment by the 
Secretary of Agriculture.

DATES: The deadline for submitting Advisory Board member nominations 
and the completed nominee Form AD-755 is July 29, 2005. Mail must be 
received or postmarked by this date to be considered.

ADDRESSES: A nomination letter and the completed AD-755 Form should be 
faxed and/or express mailed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics 
Advisory Board Office, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 344-A, Jamie 
L. Whitten Building, Washington, DC 20250-2255. Standard mail will also 
be accepted but may be delayed significantly, because of security 
procedures.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Hanfman, Executive Director, 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics 
Advisory Board, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 344-A, Whitten 
Building, Washington, DC 20250-2255,telephone: 202-720-3684; fax: 202-
720-6199; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board (the Board) was 
established by the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 
1996 (Pub. L. 104-127, commonly called the 1996 Farm Bill) to provide 
advice to the Secretary of Agriculture and land-grant colleges and 
universities on national priorities and policies related to 
agricultural research, education, extension, and economics. An 
amendment in the 2002 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (Pub. L. 
107-171) states that the Board shall also provide consultation to: 
``the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the 
Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives, and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, 
Rural Development and Related Agencies of the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate.'' Also, this amendment added one new 
member category to the Board--``(R) 1 member representing a non-land 
grant college or university with a historic commitment to research in 
the food and agricultural sciences.'' This addition brings the total 
representation on the Advisory Board to 31 members. Each Board member 
is selected based on his/her leadership, affiliation, knowledge and 
expertise that represents a ``specific stakeholder category'' on the 
Advisory Board, as delineated in the 1996 Farm Bill. Since the Advisory 
Board's inception in 1996, members were appointed to serve staggered 
terms, so that every year, the terms for approximately one-third of the 
members expire. This notice is to solicit individuals who are qualified 
to represent at least one of the ten stakeholder categories listed 
below:

Category B. Farm Cooperatives
Category D. Plant Commodity Producer
Category G. National Aquaculture Association
Category J. National Food Science Organization

[[Page 29475]]

Category L. National Nutritional Science Society
Category M. 1862 Land-Grant Colleges and Universities
Category S. Member of Scientific Community not closely associated with 
Agriculture
Category BB. An Agency of USDA that Lacks Research Capabilities
Category CC. Research Agency of the Federal Government Other than USDA
Category EE. National Organizations directly concerned with 
Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension

    The nominees submitted for these categories will be considered by 
the Secretary of Agriculture for appointment to the Advisory Board. The 
ten appointed members will serve a three-year term, beginning October 
1, 2005 and ending September 30, 2008.
    Nominations will be open to all individuals without regard to race, 
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical 
handicap, marital status, or sexual orientation. To assure that 
recommendations of the Advisory Board take into account the needs of 
the diverse groups served by the Department, membership shall include, 
to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to 
represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.
    Appointments to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
Education, and Economics Advisory Board will be made by the U.S. 
Secretary of Agriculture.

    Done at Washington, DC, this 13th day of May, 2005.
Rodney J. Brown,
Deputy Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 05-10210 Filed 5-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P