[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 161 (Monday, August 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48932-48933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16525]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of Public Meeting on Cooperative Research Agenda

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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[[Page 48933]]

SUMMARY: This is to notify cooperatives and cooperative associations, 
university personnel, public and private researchers with interests in 
agricultural and other rural cooperative policy, and other interested 
persons that Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is holding a 
public meeting for interested persons to express their views on the 
research needs of rural cooperatives with an emphasis on their business 
and organizational challenges and appropriate policies for 
strengthening agricultural and rural cooperatives in the United States.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on September 27, 2005, starting 
at 9 a.m. eastern time, with registration at 8 a.m. The public meeting 
will end at 3 p.m. unless concluded earlier.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held in Room 107A Whitten 
Building, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC. Persons interested in making a presentation at the 
meeting should send a written request to Dr. John R. Dunn, Director, 
Cooperative Resources Management Division, Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service, Room 4206-S, stop 3253, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-3253. Persons that cannot attend the meeting may 
submit written comments to Dr. John R. Dunn, Director, Cooperative 
Resources Management Division, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Room 
4206-S, stop 3253, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-
3253 no later than September 30, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. John R. Dunn, Director, 
Cooperative Resources Management Division, Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service, Room 4206-S, stop 3253, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-3253, telephone: (202) 720-1374.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting will be conducted by 
representatives of the Department of Agriculture. The proceedings of 
the meeting will be transcribed and considered in the development of 
the cooperative research agenda undertaken by Rural Development's 
Cooperative Programs in support of the research provisions of the 
Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926. The purpose of the meeting is to 
collect input and recommendations from the cooperative and cooperative 
research communities on priority research topics and research 
strategies. The Agency will compile written presentations and retain 
them as a summary of the meeting.
    To schedule oral testimony for the public meeting, notify Dr. Dunn, 
in writing, at the above address. Requests may be sent by facsimile 
transfer to (202) 690-1375 or e-mailed to: [email protected]. 
Persons who wish to make oral presentations must restrict presentations 
to 15 minutes and are encouraged to have written copies of their 
complete comments, including exhibits, for inclusion in the official 
record. Written copies should be sent to Dr. Dunn in advance of the 
meeting. Persons who register at the public meeting and have not been 
scheduled in advance to present oral testimony will be given an 
opportunity to do so if time permits. Otherwise, such persons will be 
allowed the opportunity to submit their views in writing by October 7, 
2005, for inclusion in the official record.
    Subject to the limitations described in the preceding paragraph, 
any interested person will be given the opportunity to appear and be 
heard with respect to matters relevant and material to the subject. 
However, presiding officials may limit the number of times that any one 
person may be heard and limit or exclude material that is irrelevant, 
immaterial, or unduly repetitious. Such action is intended to focus the 
discussion on the relevant issues, to ensure that all interested 
persons have an opportunity to participate to the extent time permits, 
and to prevent undue prolongation of the meeting. Presiding officials 
may ask questions at the meeting of persons making presentations. The 
questions and responses will become a part of the official record.
    Copies of the official record of the meeting will not be available 
for distribution from the Department. However, the record will be 
available for public inspection in Room 4206 at the Cooperative 
Programs offices, Room 4206 South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC, during regular business hours.

    Dated: August 5, 2005.
Peter J. Thomas,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 05-16525 Filed 8-19-05; 8:45 am]
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