[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 54350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18218]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 177 / Wednesday, September 14, 2005 / 
Notices  

[[Page 54350]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Notice of the Specialty Crop Committee's Listening Session

AGENCY: Research, Education, and Economics, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of listening session on specialty crops.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App 2, the United States Department of Agriculture announces a 
listening session of the Specialty Crop Committee under the auspices of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics 
Advisory Board.

DATES: The Specialty Crop Committee will hold a listening session from 
9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on October 20, 2005, and from 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 
a.m. on October 21, 2005.
    The public may file written comments before or up to two weeks 
after the listening session with the contact person.

ADDRESSES: The listening session of the Specialty Crop Committee will 
take place at the Best Western Capitol Skyline Hotel, 10 I Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20024-4299. You may submit comments by any of the 
following methods to the contact person identified in this notice: 
Mail/Hand-delivery: National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
Education, and Economics Advisory Board Office; U.S. Department of 
Agriculture; Room 344-A, Jamie L. Whitten Building; 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-2255; Fax: (202) 720-6199; E-mail: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Hanfman, Executive Director, 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics 
Advisory Board, (202) 720-3684.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Specialty Crop Committee was established 
in accordance with the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 
under Title III, Section 303 of Public Law 108-465. This Committee is a 
permanent subcommittee of the National Agricultural Research Extension, 
Education, and Economics Advisory Board (the Board). The Committee's 
charge is to study the scope and effectiveness of research, extension, 
and economics programs affecting the specialty crop industry. The 
congressional legislation defines ``specialty crops'' as fruits, 
vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and nursery crops (including 
floriculture). In order to carry out its responsibilities effectively, 
the Committee is holding a listening session from October 20-21, 2005 
in conjunction with the Advisory Board's biannual meeting scheduled 
from October 18-20, 2005 at the Best Western Capitol Skyline Hotel, 10 
I Street, SW., Washington, DC. The listening session will elicit input 
from industry, national, and state representatives from organizations 
and institutions, local producers, and other individuals and groups 
interested in the specialty crop issues with which the Specialty Crop 
Committee is charged. The listening session will be organized into five 
specific panel sessions that correspond to one or more topics 
delineated in the Committee's charge by Congress. Panelists will 
provide a brief 10-minute statement that will address their respective 
panel topic(s) as well as suggest ways by which agricultural research, 
extension, and/or economics can enhance the specialty crop industry. 
Each panel session will be followed with questions by Committee members 
and brief public comments from the floor. Opportunities for general 
discussion from the floor will be held on Friday, October 21, 2005 from 
10:30-11:30 a.m. Also, written comments by attendees and other 
individuals will be welcomed as additional public input before and up 
to two weeks following the listening session. All statements will 
become part of the official public record of the Board.
    A copy of the draft agenda can be requested from the contact person 
cited above.

    Done at Washington, DC this 8th day of September 2005.
Joseph J. Jen,
Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 05-18218 Filed 9-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P