[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 140 (Friday, July 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 42484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14511]



[[Page 42483]]

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Part V





Department of Agriculture





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Farm Service Agency



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Public Meetings of Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and 
Ranchers; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 140 / Friday, July 22, 2005 / 
Notices  

[[Page 42484]]


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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 August 8-9, 2005. The first 
meeting, on August 8, 2005, will start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 5:30 
p.m. The second meeting, on August 9, 2005, will begin at 8 a.m. and 
end by 4 p.m. All times noted are central standard time (c.s.t.).

ADDRESSES: All meetings will be held at the Omaha Hilton, 1001 Cass 
Street, Omaha, Nebraska, telephone (402) 998-3400. 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 August 2005 meetings include:
    (1) The Secretary of Agriculture's remarks to the National 
Association of Farm Broadcasters on May 2, 2005, and his question as to 
whether enough is being done to encourage and support the next 
generation of farmers and people who are interested in starting out in 
production agriculture;
    (2) A discussion between the President of the National State 
Departments of Agriculture and committee members concerning state 
beginning farmer programs;
    (3) Research conducted and demographic information on farm 
succession (transferring the family farm to the next generation);
    (4) Opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers to purchase 
some of the land currently in the Department's Conservation Reserve 
Program (CRP) that will become available in the next few years due to 
contracts expiring;
    (5) Farm Credit Services of America's (Decorah, Iowa) Young and 
Beginning Farmer program;
    (6) FSA's beginning farmer programs; and
    (7) Risk Management Education Programs concerning beginning farmers 
and ranchers.
    Attendance is open to all interested persons but limited to space 
available. Anyone wishing to make an oral statement should submit a 
request in writing (letter, fax, or e-mail) to Mark Falcone at the 
above address. Statements should be received no later than August 2, 
2005. 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. CST on August 8, 2005.
    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 
August 2, 2005.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on July 5, 2005.
James R. Little,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 05-14511 Filed 7-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P