[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 76 (Monday, April 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22096-22097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09059]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


2014 Farm Bill Implementation Listening Session--Value-Added 
Producer Grant Program

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As part of our implementation of the Agricultural Act of 2014 
(commonly referred to as the 2014 Farm Bill), the Rural Business-
Cooperative Service (RBS) is hosting a listening session for initial 
public input about changes to Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program 
for which RBS has been delegated the authority to implement. The 2014 
Farm Bill specifically identifies two new provisions to be implemented 
for VAPG--(1) an additional priority preference for veteran farmers or 
ranchers and (2) a priority for projects that best contribute to 
creating or increasing marketing opportunities for beginning farmers or 
ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, operators of 
small-and medium-sized family farms and ranches that are structured as 
family farms, and/or veteran farmers or ranchers.
    RBS is holding this listening session specifically to provide an 
opportunity for stakeholders to voice their priorities, concerns, and 
requests on the ``best contributing'' priority. Instructions regarding 
registering for and attending the listening session are in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

DATES: 
    Listening session: The listening session will be on April 25, 2014, 
and will begin at 1:00 p.m. and is scheduled to end by 4:00 p.m.
    Registration: You must register by 5pm ET on April 23, 2014, to 
attend the listening session and to provide oral comments during the 
listening session.
    Comments: Written comments are due by 5pm ET on April 24, 2014.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to participate in the listening session. The 
listening session is open to the public. The meeting will be held in 
the Room 107-A of the Whitten Building at 14th Street and Independence 
Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250.
    We also invite you to submit comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments; or
     Orally at the listening session; please also provide a 
written copy of your comments online as specified above or in hard copy 
at the listening session.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Jermolowicz; phone: (202) 720-
8460. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 
communication (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact 
the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 7, 2014, the 2014 Farm Bill 
(Pub. L. 113-79) was signed into law. The Secretary of Agriculture and 
the respective USDA agencies, including RBS, are working to implement 
the provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill as expeditiously as possible to 
meet the needs of producers and other stakeholders. In order to 
implement the provisions expeditiously and to ensure transparency, it 
is important to hear from stakeholders to be aware of their priorities, 
concerns, or requests.
    RBS will hold the listening session on April 25, 2014, to receive 
oral comments from stakeholders and the public. A written copy of the 
oral comments is requested. (See the ADDRESSES section above for 
information about submitting written comments.) In addition, 
stakeholders and the public who do not wish to attend or speak at the 
listening session are invited to submit written comments, which must be 
received by 5pm ET April 24, 2014.
    As a listening session, the focus is for RBS to hear from the 
public; this is not a discussion with RBS officials or a question and 
answer session. As noted above, the purpose is to receive public input 
that RBS can factor into decisions it needs to make in order to 
implement the ``best contributing'' priority of the 2014 Farm Bill for 
the VAPG program (as outlined as priority 2 of this 
announcement summary above) .
Date: April 25, 2014
Time: 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
    Location information: USDA headquarters, in the Whitten Building, 
Room 107-A, 14th Street and Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 
20250.

    The listening session will begin with brief opening remarks from 
the USDA leadership in Rural Development. Individual speakers providing 
oral comments are requested to be succinct as we do not know at this 
time how many participants there will be. As noted above, we request 
that speakers providing oral comments also provide a written copy of 
their comments. (See the ADDRESSES section above for information about 
submitting written comments.) All stakeholders and interested members 
of the public are welcome to register to provide oral comments; 
however, due to the time constraints a limited number will be selected 
on a first come, first serve basis.
    The purpose of the listening session is for RBS to hear from 
stakeholders and other interested members of the public about the 
``best contributing'' priority as required by the 2014 Farm Bill. 
Please refer to the VAPG program in your comment. In your comments, 
provide your input about how this provision could be implemented, 
including your rationale, for us to consider.

Instructions for Attending the Meeting

    Space for attendance at the meeting is limited. Due to USDA 
headquarters security and space requirements, all persons wishing to 
attend the public meeting or provide oral comments to RBS during the 
listening session must send an email to [email protected] 
by 5 p.m. on April 23, 2014, to register the names of those planning to 
attend. Registrations will be accepted until maximum room capacity is 
reached. To register, provide the following information:
 First Name
 Last Name
 Organization
 Title
 Email
 City
 State

    Upon arrival at the USDA Whitten Building, registered persons must 
provide valid photo identification in order to enter the building; 
visitors need to enter the Whitten Building on the mall side. Please 
allow extra time to get through security. Additional

[[Page 22097]]

information about the listening session, agenda, directions to get to 
the listening session, and how to provide comments is available at the 
USDA Farm Bill Web site http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=farmbill.
    All written comments received will be publicly available on 
www.regulations.gov. If you require special accommodations, such as a 
sign language interpreter, use the contact information above. The 
listening session location is accessible to persons with disabilities.

    Dated: April 16, 2014.
 Ashli Palmer,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-09059 Filed 4-18-14; 8:45 am]
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