[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 117 (Thursday, June 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34879-34880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15070]


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 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of Advocacy and Outreach


Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Advisory Committee--Subcommittee 
on Land Tenure

AGENCY: Office of Advocacy and Outreach, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the 
Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO) is announcing a meeting of the 
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Advisory Committee's (BFRAC) 
Subcommittee on Land Tenure (Subcommittee). The Subcommittee is being 
convened to consider issues involving access to land, farm business 
transition and land tenure. The members will perform preliminary work 
on recommendations that will be submitted to the parent committee. The 
BFRAC will prepare recommendations for USDA Secretary Vilsack's 
consideration in making policy decisions affecting land tenure during 
its next public meeting.

DATES: The subcommittee meeting is scheduled for Monday through 
Wednesday, June 22-24, 2015, from 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CST. Tuesday, 
June 23, from 10:30-3:30 p.m. CST has been set aside for public 
comments. All persons wishing to make comments during this meeting must 
check in between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. CST on June 23, at the 
registration table. All public commenters will be allowed a maximum of 
three minutes. If the number of registrants requesting to speak is 
greater than what can be reasonably accommodated during the scheduled 
open public meeting timeframe, speakers will be scheduled on a first-
come basis.
    Public written comments for the Subcommittee's consideration may be 
submitted by close of business on June 19, 2015, to Mrs. Kenya 
Nicholas, Designated Federal Official, USDA OAO, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Room 520-A, Washington, DC 20250-0170, Phone (202) 720-
6350, Fax (202) 720-7704, Email: [email protected]. A conference call 
line will be available and open for public comments on June from 10:30 
a.m. through 3:30 p.m. CST on Tuesday, June 23, for all who wish to 
listen in on the proceeding through

[[Page 34880]]

the following telephone number: (888) 566-6179 and enter passcode 
3184649.
    Members of the public may submit written statements to the Land 
Tenure Subcommittee at any time. Written submissions are encouraged to 
either be less than one page in length, or be accompanied by an 
executive summary and a summary of policy initiatives to include, but 
not limited to, the following topics:
    1. How are farmers currently making farm business transitions and 
land or asset transfers between generations and non-family owners?
    2. How do changes in agricultural land tenure, such as increased 
reliance on leasing, impact the ability of USDA to serve the needs of 
America's farm families?
    3. How do changes in land tenure affect the access and availability 
of farmland for new and beginning farmers?
    4. How do we help farms plan for transitions in advance and best 
support those who inherit farmland?

ADDRESSES: This public advisory committee meeting will be held at Drake 
University, Old Main, Levitt Hall, 25th and University Ave., Des 
Moines, Iowa 50311. On-street parking and on-site parking is available. 
There is also a drop-off area directly in front of the entrance to the 
property. There will be signs directing attendees to the meeting room.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions should be directed to 
Phyllis Morgan, Executive Assistant, OAO, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., 
Whitten Bldg., 520-A, Washington, DC 20250, Phone: (202) 720-6350, Fax: 
(202) 720-7136, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BFRAC members met in Austin, Texas, on 
September 23-24, 2014, to deliberate upon the final set of 
recommendations for the Secretary on issues involving communications, 
service, and advocacy in identifying barriers for beginning farmers and 
ranchers. They also considered issues around lending and credit in 
parsing statistics generated by USDA. Since that meeting, the Secretary 
tasked the BFRAC with providing recommendations on access to land, farm 
business transition, and land tenure. Please visit our Web site at: 
http://www.outreach.usda.gov/smallbeginning/index.htm for additional 
information on the BFRAC.
    The public is asked to pre-register for the meeting by June 19, 
2015. You may pre-register for the public meeting by submitting an 
email to [email protected] with your name, organization or 
affiliation, comments, or any questions for the subcommittee's 
consideration. You may also fax this information to (202) 720-7704. 
Members of the public who wish to make comments during the subcommittee 
meeting must arrive between 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 
23, and register (confirm) at the check-in table.
    The agenda is as follows: Day 1: Closed Session. Day 2: 
Subcommittee discussions, public comments, and subcommittee 
deliberations. Day 3: Closed Session. Please visit the Beginning 
Farmers and Ranchers Web site for the full agenda. All agenda topics 
and documents will be made available to the public at: http://www.outreach.usda.gov/smallbeginning/index.htm. Copies of the agenda 
will also be distributed at the meeting.
    Meeting Accommodations: USDA is committed to ensuring that everyone 
is accommodated in our work environment, programs, and events. If you 
are a person with a disability and request reasonable accommodations to 
participate in this meeting, please note the request in your 
registration and you may contact Mrs. Kenya Nicholas in advance of the 
meeting by or before close of business on June 19, 2015, by phone at 
(202) 720-6350, fax (202) 720-7704, or email: 
[email protected].

    Issued in Washington, DC, this 15th day of June 2015.
Christian Obineme,
Associate Director, Office of Advocacy and Outreach.
[FR Doc. 2015-15070 Filed 6-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3412-89-P