[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7828-7829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02945]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Invitation for Nominations to the Advisory Committee on 
Agriculture Statistics

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

ACTION: Solicitation of Nominations to the Advisory Committee on 
Agriculture Statistics.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App. 2, this notice announces an invitation from the Office of 
the Secretary of Agriculture for nominations to the Advisory Committee 
on Agriculture Statistics.
    On September 2, 2014, the Secretary of Agriculture renewed the 
Advisory

[[Page 7829]]

Committee charter for a two-year term to expire on September 2, 2016. 
The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Secretary of Agriculture 
on the scope, timing, content, etc., of the periodic censuses and 
surveys of agriculture, other related surveys, and the types of 
information to obtain from respondents concerning agriculture. The 
Committee also prepares recommendations regarding the content of 
agriculture reports and presents the views and needs for data of major 
suppliers and users of agriculture statistics.

DATES: The nomination period for interested candidates will close 
February 27, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations by any of the following methods:
     Email: Scan the completed form and email to: 
[email protected].
     eFax: (855) 593-5473.
     Mail: Nominations should be mailed to Hubert Hamer, 
Executive Director, Agricultural Statistics Board, National 
Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 5431 South Building, Washington, DC 
20250-2010.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand deliver to: Hubert Hamer, 
Executive Director, Agricultural Statistics Board, National 
Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Room 5431 South Building, Washington, DC 
20250-2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hubert Hamer, Executive Director, 
Agricultural Statistics Board, National Agricultural Statistics 
Service, (202) 720-3896.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each person nominated to serve on the 
committee is required to submit the following form: AD-755 (Advisory 
Committee Membership Background Information, OMB Number 0505-0001), 
available on the Internet at http://www.usda.gov/documents/OCIO_AD_755_Master_2012.pdf. This form may also be requested by 
telephone, fax, or email using the information above. Completed forms 
may be faxed to the number above, mailed, or completed and emailed 
directly from the Internet site. NASS is seeking additional nominations 
to fill vacancies on the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics. 
The original invitation for nominations ran from September 18, 2014 to 
October 24, 2014. Applications submitted during this time frame will be 
considered along with additional nominations received through this 
announcement.
    For more information on the Advisory Committee on Agriculture 
Statistics, see the NASS Web site at http://www.nass.usda.gov. At the 
top of the homepage, click on the tab titled ``About NASS``. The 
``Advisory Committee on Agricultural Statistics'' button is along the 
right column.
    The Committee draws on the experience and expertise of its members 
to form a collective judgment concerning agriculture data collected and 
the statistics issued by NASS. This input is vital to keep current with 
shifting data needs in the rapidly changing agricultural environment 
and keeps NASS informed of emerging issues in the agriculture community 
that can affect agricultural statistics activities.
    The Committee, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, consists 
of 20 members representing a broad range of disciplines and interests, 
including, but not limited to, producers, representatives of national 
farm organizations, agricultural economists, rural sociologists, farm 
policy analysts, educators, State agriculture representatives, and 
agriculture-related business and marketing experts.
    Members serve staggered 2-year terms, with terms for half of the 
Committee members expiring in any given year. Nominations are being 
sought for 6 open Committee seats. Members can serve up to 3 terms for 
a total of 6 consecutive years. The Chairperson of the Committee shall 
be elected by members to serve a 1-year term.
    Equal opportunity practices, in line with USDA policies, will be 
followed in all membership appointments to the Committee. To ensure 
that the recommendations of the Committee have taken into account the 
needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership will include to 
the extent possible, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent 
the needs of all racial and ethnic groups, women and men, and persons 
with disabilities.
    The duties of the Committee are solely advisory. The Committee will 
make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture with regards to 
the agricultural statistics programs of NASS, and such other matters as 
it may deem advisable, or which the Secretary of Agriculture; Under 
Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics; or the Administrator 
of NASS may request. The Committee will meet at least annually. All 
meetings are open to the public. Committee members are reimbursed for 
official travel expenses only.
    Send questions, comments, and requests for additional information 
to the email address, fax number, or address listed above.

    Signed at Washington, DC, January 30, 2015.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-02945 Filed 2-11-15; 8:45 am]
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