[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 147 (Wednesday, July 30, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 44211]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17391]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 147 / Wednesday, July 30, 2008 / 
Notices  

[[Page 44211]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Notice of the Specialty Crop Committee's Stakeholder Listening 
Sessions

AGENCY: Research, Education, and Economics, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of stakeholder listening sessions.

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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 
three stakeholder listening sessions 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 three stakeholder 
listening sessions August 20, 2008 from 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m., August 21, 
2008 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and on September 4, 2008 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The stakeholder listening sessions of the Specialty Crop 
Committee will take place on August 20, 2008, at the Cotton Tree Inn, 
2300 Market Street, Mt. Vernon, Washington 98273; August 21, 2008 at 
the Ellensburg Quality Inn, 1700 Canyon Road, Ellensburg, WA 98926; and 
September 4, 2008 at The Inn on the Lake, 770 South Main Street, 
Canandaigua, NY 14424.
    The public may file written comments before or up to two weeks 
after the listening session with the contact person identified in this 
notice at: The 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Hunter, Executive Director, 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics 
Advisory Board; telephone: (202) 720-3684; fax: (202) 720-6199; or e-
mail: [email protected].

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 committee 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 these stakeholder listening sessions. The 
Committee seeks stakeholder input from industry and state 
representatives, national organizations and institutions, local 
producers, agricultural researchers and extension educators, and other 
groups interested in the issues with which the Specialty Crop Committee 
is charged. Comments on measures to improve the efficiency, 
productivity, profitability and economic stability of specialty crop 
producers; on regional or national data or information needed by the 
industry to evaluate its competitive position; and on measures designed 
to improve the competitiveness of research, extension and economics 
programs affecting the industry are particularly sought. The format 
will focus on several panel sessions, each relating to one or more 
specific issues delineated in the Committee's charge. Each panel will 
be followed with questions or comments by Committee members and from 
the floor. Opportunities for brief presentations and general discussion 
from the public participants will be provided. Also, written comments 
by attendees and other interested stakeholders will be welcomed as 
additional public input before and up to two weeks following the 
listening sessions. All statements will become part of the official 
public record of the Board's Specialty Crop Committee.

    Done at Washington, DC, this 24th day of July, 2008.
Gale A. Buchanan,
Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
 [FR Doc. E8-17391 Filed 7-29-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P