[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 116 (Friday, June 17, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35221-35222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-11787]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 116 / Friday, June 17, 2005 / 
Notices  

[[Page 35221]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Request for Public Comments To Be Used in Developing USDA 
Recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meetings and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a series of public forums that senior 
officials of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will 
hold to obtain public input for the development of the 2007 Farm Bill. 
The 2002 Farm Bill, officially entitled the Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act of 2002 (the 2002 Act; Publ. L. 107-171), authorizes 
many of the programs operated by USDA such as the farm price and income 
support programs and expires with the 2007 crop year. Many other key 
programs specified in the 2002 Act expire at the end of fiscal year 
2007. New legislation will need to be enacted prior to the expiration 
of the 2002 Act.
    USDA intends to develop recommendations for the new farm bill and 
believes that public input is essential to the process by which these 
recommendations will be developed. This process requires an assessment 
of the performance of current programs operated under the 2002 Act as 
well as of possible alternative programs for the next farm bill.
    The public forums will be held at various locations in the United 
States during 2005. The dates, locations, and times of the forums will 
be announced by USDA press release (available at http://www.usda.gov). 
The public will be invited to attend the forums and to present oral 
comments.
    The primary topics addressed at the forums will reflect various 
concerns affecting rural America such as commodity, conservation, and 
rural economic development issues. However, some forums will be 
dedicated to other important programs authorized by the farm bill such 
as food assistance, research, and education programs. Topics for these 
discussions will be announced via USDA press release.
    In addition, this notice provides the public the opportunity to 
comment in writing on key issues that USDA expects to address in the 
development of its recommendations. USDA will review the public 
comments received, including any analyses, reports, studies, and other 
material submitted with the comments, that address the questions 
specified below.

DATES: Comments must be received by December 30, 2005.

ADDRESSES: We invite interested persons to submit comments on this 
notice. Comments will be accepted at public forums and may also be 
submitted electronically (preferred) or by postal mail. Comments may be 
submitted electronically via the Internet at the USDA home page (http://www.usda.gov) by selected ``Farm Bill Forums.'' Comments may also be 
submitted by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: Send comments to: [email protected]
     Mail: Send comments to: Secretary of Agriculture Mike 
Johanns, Farm Bill, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-3355.
     Hand delivery or courier: Deliver comments to Room 116A at 
the above address.
    All comments, including names and addresses, provided by 
respondents are a matter of public record. Comments may be inspected at 
the Department of Agriculture. To arrange for inspection, please 
contact the Office of the Executive Secretariat, Room 116A, Jamie L. 
Whitten Federal Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20250-3355.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: USDA/OES, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3355. By telephone: USDA's Office of 
Communications at (202) 720-9002. By e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Key Issues for Comment

    USDA is seeking public comments on the following farm policy 
considerations:
    1. The competitiveness of U.S. agriculture in global and domestic 
markets.
    As bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade negotiations 
continue to result in reduced barriers to international trade, exports 
and imports of agricultural products are expected to become 
increasingly important factors in U.S. and global agriculture. 
Obtaining ever-greater access to growing foreign markets and being 
increasingly competitive in these and in domestic markets is essential 
for farm economic growth. One key factor in our ability to be 
competitive depends on the types of products demanded around the world 
in the next 10 to 20 years and our ability to produce products that 
meet this world demand.
    How should farm policy be designed to maximize U.S. competitiveness 
and our country's ability to compete effectively in global markets?
    2. The challenges facing new farmers and ranchers as they enter 
agriculture.
    Some observers note that while farm policy has served agriculture 
and the country well in the past there are ``unintended consequences'' 
that should be addressed, such as the capitalization of program 
benefits into land prices. These higher land prices are cited as a 
barrier to entry into agriculture for new farmers; a factor in reduced 
profit for existing farmers; and a cause of weakened competitive 
position on the part of U.S. farmers compared with farmers in countries 
with lower-priced land.
    How should farm policy address any unintended consequences and 
ensure that such consequences do not discourage new farmers and the 
next generation of farmers from entering production agriculture?
    3. The appropriateness and effectiveness of the distribution of 
farm program benefits.
    A longstanding goal of farm policy has been to enhance and 
stabilize farm prices and incomes. Current farm programs, including 
crop insurance, distribute assistance based on past and current 
production levels. Some argue that the current farm support system 
encourages increases in farm size and results in the disproportionate

[[Page 35222]]

distribution of program benefits to large farms. It has also been 
suggested that program incentives lead to increased production and 
lower market prices.
    How should farm policy be designed to effectively and fairly 
distribute assistance to producers?
    4. The achievement of conservation and environmental goals.
    While producing food and fiber are essential functions, agriculture 
also plays a major role in natural resource stewardship. Some have 
suggested that future farm policy might be anchored around the 
provision of tangible benefits such as cleaner water and air. Such an 
approach may be consistent with future World Trade Organization 
obligations on domestic support to agriculture, while also expanding 
farm programs to extend more broadly across agriculture, including 
private forest lands.
    How can farm policy best achieve conservation and environmental 
goals?
    5. The enhancement of rural economic growth.
    Farming and rural America once were almost synonomous. Over the 
years, the demographic and economic characteristics of rural areas have 
changed, as has farming's role in the rural economy. This raises the 
issue of whether more Government attention should be focused on 
investing in the infrastructure in rural America (for example, 
investing in new technologies).
    How can Federal rural and farm programs provide effective 
assistance in rural areas?
    6. Opportunities to expand agricultural products, markets, and 
research.
    Changes in farm and market structure over past decades have led to 
suggestions that farm policy could be more flexible by enabling greater 
support for a broader range of activities helpful to agriculture market 
expansion. Examples are: Attention to product quality and new 
attributes; organic and specialty crops; value-added products, 
including renewable energy and bioproducts and new uses for farm 
products generally; expanded basic and applied research; domestic and 
foreign market development; and similar activities.
    How should these agricultural product, marketing, and research-
related issues be addressed in the next farm bill?
    This notice is being issued to obtain public comment regarding the 
next farm bill. There are no regulatory findings associated with this 
notice.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on June 8, 2005.
Mike Johanns,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 05-11787 Filed 6-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M