[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 45413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15918]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Notice of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
Education, and Economics Advisory Board Specialty Crop Meeting and 
Executive Committee Meeting

AGENCY: Research, Education, and Economics, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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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 
meeting of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, 
and Economics Advisory Board Specialty Crop Committee and Executive 
Committee.

DATES: The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and 
Economics Advisory Board Specialty Crop Committee will meet on August 
29, 2007 and the Executive Committee will hold a meeting on August 29-
30, 2007 at the Double Tree Hotel, 1150 Ninth Place, Modesto, 
California.

ADDRESSES: The public may file written comments before or up to two 
weeks after the meeting with the contact person. You may submit 
comments by any of the following methods: E-mail: 
[email protected]; Fax: (202) 720-6199; Mail/Hand-Delivery or 
Courier: The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and 
Economics Advisory Board; Research, Education, and Economics Advisory 
Board Office, Room 344-A, Jamie L. Whitten Building, United States 
Department of Agriculture, STOP 2255, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-2255.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shirley Morgan-Jordan, Program Support 
Coordinator, National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and 
Economics Advisory Board; telephone: (202) 720-8408.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Wednesday, August 29, 2007, from 9 a.m. 
to 2 p.m., the Specialty Crop Committee will hold a listening session 
to study the scope and effectiveness of research, extension, and 
economics programs affecting the specialty crop industry. The purpose 
of this Specialty Crop meeting is to obtain regional input on research 
and education issues of high priority focusing on ``Measures to Improve 
the Efficiency, Productivity and Profitability of Specialty Crop 
Production in the United States'' and ``Measures Designed to Improve 
Competitiveness to Research, Extension, and Economics Programs 
Affecting the Specialty Crop Industry.'' Particular emphasis will be 
placed on further elaborating on the committee's last report entitled 
``U.S. Specialty Crops: An Update on Opportunities and Challenges'', 
which was released May 9, 2007.
    On Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at 9 a.m., the general meeting will 
begin with introductory remarks provided by the Chair of the Specialty 
Crop Committee. The REE Under Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Gale 
Buchanan, has been invited to provide opening remarks. Distinguished 
leaders and experts, organizations or institutions, local producers, or 
other groups interested in the issues with which the Specialty Crop 
Committee is charged are invited to provide comments on two or three of 
the most important recommendations from their perspective by which USDA 
can enhance its research, extension, education, and economic programs 
to address needs of our nation's specialty crop sector. Following the 
adjournment of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
Education, and Economics Advisory Board Specialty Crop Committee 
Listening Session on August 29, 2007, the Executive Committee will hold 
their meeting on Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Double Tree 
Hotel, 1150 Ninth Place, Modesto, California. On Thursday, August 30, 
2007, the Executive Committee will reconvene at 7:30 a.m. and complete 
all discussions to adjourn by 9:30 a.m. The Executive Committee will be 
discussing a number of issues relating to the Specialty Crop Committee 
and other forthcoming National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
Education, and Economics Advisory Board concerns.
    Written comments by attendees or other interested stakeholders will 
be welcomed for the public record before and up to two weeks following 
the Board meeting (by close of business Wednesday, September 12, 2007). 
The findings of the Specialty Crop Committee and Executive Committee 
will be based on input from speakers, other stakeholders, the general 
public, and Board discussions. These findings will be forwarded to the 
Advisory Board, which in turn will provide recommendations to the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the House and Senate agriculture-related 
committee/subcommittees of the U.S. Congress, as well as the land-grant 
colleges and universities, as mandated. All statements will become a 
part of the official record of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board and will be kept on 
file for public review in the Research, Extension, Education, and 
Economics Advisory Board Office.

    Done at Washington, DC this 7th day of August, 2007.
Merle Pierson,
Deputy Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. E7-15918 Filed 8-13-07; 8:45 am]
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