[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54987-54988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22420]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 24, 2008 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 54987]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

7 CFR Chapter XXXIV


Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding the Beginning 
Farmer and Rancher Development Program

AGENCY: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for stakeholder input.

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SUMMARY: The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service (CSREES) is implementing a newly funded competitive grants 
program called the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. By 
this notice, CSREES is designated to act on behalf of the Secretary of 
Agriculture in soliciting public comments and stakeholder input from 
persons who use or conduct research, extension or education, training, 
outreach and technical assistance regarding the implementing regulation 
to be developed for this newly funded program, as required under 
section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, as 
amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Monday, October 27, 2008, from 9 
a.m. to 1 p.m. All comments must be received by close of business on 
Friday, November 14, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in rooms 1410A-D, Waterfront Centre 
Building, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, 
United States Department of Agriculture, 800 9th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20024. Meeting participants will need to provide photo 
identification to be admitted to the building. Please allow sufficient 
time to go through security. You may submit comments, identified by 
CSREES-2008-0003, by any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    E-mail: [email protected]. Include CSREES-2008-0003 in the 
subject line of the message.
    Fax: 202-401-1782.
    Mail: Paper, disk or CD-ROM submissions should be submitted to 
BFRDP; Competitive Programs (CP) Unit, Cooperative State Research, 
Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 
2240, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-2240.
    Hand Delivery/Courier: BFRDP, Competitive Programs (CP) Unit, 
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Room 2457, Waterfront Centre, 800 9th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20024.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and reference to CSREES-2008-0003. All comments received will be posted 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Paulette Smith, (202) 401-1761 
(phone), (202) 401-1782 (fax), or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Additional Meeting and Comment Procedures

    Because of the diversity of subjects, and to aid participants in 
scheduling their attendance, the following schedule is anticipated for 
the October 27, 2008, meeting:

9 a.m.-9:30 a.m.--Introduction to Beginning Farmer and Rancher 
Development Program (program purposes and background information).
9:30 a.m.-10 a.m.--Eligibility and matching funds.
10 a.m.-10:30 a.m.--Partnerships.
10:30 a.m.-11 a.m.--Outcomes-based reporting, communication of findings 
and results beyond the immediate target audience, and best practices.
11 a.m.-11:30 a.m.--Educational teams.
11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.--Curriculum and Training Clearinghouse; purpose & 
reporting of materials.
12 p.m.-12:30 p.m.--Funding priorities.
12:30 p.m.-1 p.m.--Issues pertaining to BFRDP funding priorities and 
administration.

    Persons wishing to present oral comments at the October 27, 2008, 
meeting are requested to pre-register by contacting Ms. Paulette Smith 
at (202) 401-1761, by fax at (202) 401-1782 or by e-mail to 
[email protected]. Participants may reserve one 5-minute comment. 
More time may be available, depending on the number of people wishing 
to make a presentation and the time needed for questions following 
presentations. Reservations will be confirmed on a first-come, first-
served basis. All other attendees may register at the meeting. All 
comments must be received by close of business Friday, November 14, 
2008, to be considered. All comments and the official transcript of the 
meeting, when they become available, may be reviewed on the CSREES Web 
page for six months. Participants who require a sign language 
interpreter or other special accommodations should contact Ms. Smith as 
directed above. Additional forums will occur after the public meeting 
to obtain public comments for use in developing the proposed rule for 
the new BFRDP program. These forums will be announced through the 
CSREES Web page: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/business/reporting/stakeholder/ec_stakeholder.html.

Background and Purpose

    Section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(Pub. L. 107-171) as amended in the FCEA (Pub. L. 110-246) authorized 
the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants to new and 
established local and regional training, education, outreach, and 
technical assistance initiatives that address the needs of beginning 
farmers and ranchers. The Secretary may award a Beginning Farmer and 
Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) grant to a collaborative State, 
tribal, local or regionally based network or partnership of public or 
private entities, which may include: A State cooperative extension 
service; a Federal, State or tribal agency; a community-based and 
nongovernmental organization; a college or university (including an 
institution awarding an associate's degree) or foundation maintained by 
a college or university; or any other appropriate partner, as 
determined by the Secretary. Grants shall be awarded to address needs 
of beginning farmers and ranchers in the following areas: Mentoring,

[[Page 54988]]

apprenticeships, and internships; resources and referrals; assisting 
beginning farmers or ranchers in acquiring land from retiring farmers 
and ranchers; innovative farm and ranch transfer strategies; 
entrepreneurship and business training; model land leasing contracts; 
financial management training; whole farm planning; conservation 
assistance; risk management education; diversification and marketing 
strategies; curriculum development; understanding the impact of 
concentration and globalization; basic livestock and crop farming 
practices; the acquisition and management of agricultural credit; 
environmental compliance; information processing; and other similar 
subject areas of use to beginning farmers or ranchers. The authority to 
carry out this program has been delegated to CSREES through the Under 
Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.
    CSREES is holding a public meeting to obtain comments to use in 
developing the proposed rule for the newly funded BFRDP. The meeting 
will solicit comments regarding the implementation of BFRDP. The 
meeting is open to the public. Written comments and suggestions may be 
submitted to the CSREES Docket Clerk at the address above.

Summary of Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program

    For fiscal year (FY) 2009, $18 million has been made available for 
the BFRDP. Not less than 25 percent of funds used to carry out the 
BFRDP for a fiscal year shall be used to support programs and services 
that address the needs of limited resource beginning farmers or 
ranchers; socially disadvantaged beginning farmers or ranchers; and 
farmworkers desiring to become farmers or ranchers. All applicants are 
required to provide funds or in-kind support from non-Federal sources 
in an amount that is at least equal to 25 percent of the Federal funds 
requested. In making BFRDP grants, priority will be given to 
partnerships and collaborations that are led by or include 
nongovernmental and community-based organizations with expertise in new 
agricultural producer training and outreach. Geographical diversity 
will be ensured to the maximum extent practicable.

Implementation Plans

    CSREES plans to consider stakeholder input received from this 
public meeting and subsequent public forums as well as other written 
comments in developing an implementing regulation for this program. 
CSREES anticipates releasing a Request for Applications (RFA) by mid-
January 2009.

    Done at Washington, DC, this 19th day of September, 2008.
Colien Hefferan,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension 
Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-22420 Filed 9-23-08; 8:45 am]
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