[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49922-49923]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17971]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 146 / Friday, July 29, 2016 / 
Notices  

[[Page 49922]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Request for Nominations of Members for the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board and 
Specialty Crop Committee

AGENCY: Research, Education, and Economics, USDA.

ACTION: Solicitation for membership.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App., the United States Department of Agriculture announces the 
solicitation for nominations to fill vacancies on the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory 
Board and its subcommittees. There are 7 vacancies on the NAREEE 
Advisory Board, 3 vacancies on the Specialty Crop Committee, 4 
vacancies on the National Genetics Advisory Council, and 6 vacancies on 
the Citrus Disease Committee.

DATES: All nomination materials should be mailed in a single, complete 
package and postmarked by July 29, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The nominee's name, resume or CV, completed Form AD-755, and 
any letters of support must be submitted via one of the following 
methods:
    (1) Email to [email protected]; or
    (2) By mail delivery service to Thomas Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20250, Attn: NAREEE Advisory Board, Room 332A, Whitten Building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Esch, Director, National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory 
Board, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 332A, The Whitten Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-2255, telephone: 202-720-3684; fax: 202-720-6199; 
email: [email protected]. Committee Web site: 
www.nareeeab.ree.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Instructions for Nominations

    Nominations are solicited from organizations, associations, 
societies, councils, federations, groups, and companies that represent 
a wide variety of food and agricultural interests throughout the 
country. Nominations for one individual who fits several of the 
categories listed above, or for more than one person who fits one 
category, will be accepted.
    In your nomination letter, please indicate the specific membership 
category for each nomine if applying for the NAREEE Advisory Committee 
and also specify what committee(s) you are sending your nomination is 
for. Each nominee must submit form AD-755, ``Advisory Committee 
Membership Background Information'' (which can be obtained from the 
contact person below or from: http://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/AD-755_Master_2012_508%20Ver.pdf). All nominees will be 
vetted before selection.
    Nominations are open to all individuals without regard to race, 
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical 
handicap, marital status, or sexual orientation. To ensure the 
recommendation of the Advisory Board take into account the needs of the 
diverse groups served by the USDA, membership shall include, to the 
extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent 
the needs of all racial and ethnic groups, women and men, and persons 
with disabilities.
    Please note that registered lobbyist and individuals already 
serving another USDA Federal Advisory Committee, are ineligible for 
nomination.
    All nominees will be carefully reviewed for their expertise, 
leadership, and relevance. All nominees will be vetted before 
selection.
    Appointments to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
Education, and Economics Advisory Board and its subcommittees will be 
made by the Secretary of Agriculture.

National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics 
Advisory Board

    The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and 
Economics Advisory Board was established in 1996 via Section 1408 of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act 
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123) to provide advice to the Secretary of 
Agriculture and land-grant colleges and universities on top priorities 
and policies for food and agricultural research, education, extension, 
and economics. Section 1408 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 was amended by the Farm 
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to reduce the number of 
members on the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, 
and Economics Advisory Board to 25 members and required the Board to 
also provide advice to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
of the Senate, the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food 
and Drug Administration and Related Agencies of the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Subcommittee on 
Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies of the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate.
    Since the Advisory Boards inception by congressional legislation in 
1996, each member has represented a specific category related to 
farming or ranching, food production and processing, forestry research, 
crop and animal science, land-grant institutions, non-land grant 
college or university with a historic commitment to research in the 
food and agricultural sciences, food retailing and marketing, rural 
economic development, and natural resource and consumer interest 
groups, among many others. The Board was first appointed by the 
Secretary of Agriculture in September 1996 and one-third of its members 
were appointed for a one, two, and three-year term, respectively. The 
terms for 7 members who represent specific categories will expire 
September 30, 2016. Nominations for a 3-year appointment for these 7 
vacant categories are sought. All nominees will be carefully reviewed 
for their expertise, leadership, and relevance to a category.
    The 7 slots to be filled are:


[[Page 49923]]


Category F. National Food Animal Science Society
Category G. National Crop, Soil, Agronomy, Horticulture, or Weed 
Science Society
Category L. 1890 Land-Grant Colleges and Universities
Category M. 1994 Equity in Education-Land Grant Institutions
Category P. American Colleges of Veterinary Medicine
Category T. Rural Economic Development
Category U. National Consumer Interest Group

Specialty Crop Committee

    The Specialty Crop Committee was created as a subcommittee of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics 
Advisory Board in 2004 in accordance with the Specialty Crops 
Competitiveness Act of 2004 under Title III, Section 303 of Public Law 
108-465. The committee was formulated to study the scope and 
effectiveness of research, extension, and economics programs affecting 
the specialty crop industry. The legislation defines ``specialty 
crops'' as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and nursery 
crops (including floriculture). The Agricultural Act of 2014 further 
expanded the scope of the Specialty Crop Committee to provide advice to 
the Secretary of Agriculture on the relevancy review process of the 
Specialty Crop Research Initiative, a granting program of the National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture.
    Members should represent the breadth of the specialty crop 
industry. 6 members of the Specialty Crop Committee are also members of 
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics 
Advisory Board and 6 members represent various disciplines of the 
specialty crop industry.
    The terms of 3 members will expire on September 30, 2015. The 
Specialty Crop Committee is soliciting nominations to fill 3 vacant 
positions. Appointed members will serve 2-3 years with their terms 
expiring in September 2017 or 2018.

National Genetic Resources Advisory Council

    The National Genetic Resources Advisory Council was re-established 
in 2012 as a permanent subcommittee of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board 
to formulate recommendations on actions and policies for the 
collection, maintenance, and utilization of genetic resources; to make 
recommendations for coordination of genetic resources plans of several 
domestic and international organizations; and to advise the Secretary 
of Agriculture and the National Genetic Resources Program of new and 
innovative approaches to genetic resources conservation. The National 
Genetic Resources Advisory Council will also advise the department on 
developing a broad strategy for maintaining plant biodiversity 
available to agriculture, and strengthening public sector plant 
breeding capacities.
    The National Genetic Resources Advisory Council membership is 
required to have two-thirds of the appointed members from scientific 
disciplines relevant to the National Genetic Resources Program 
including agricultural sciences, environmental sciences, natural 
resource sciences, health sciences, and nutritional sciences; and one-
third of the appointed members from the general public including 
leaders in fields of public policy, trade, international development, 
law, or management.
    The terms of 4 members of the National Genetic Resources Advisory 
Council will expire on September 30, 2016. We are seeking nominations 
for a 4-year appointment effective October 1, 2016 through September 
30, 2020. The 4 slots to be filled are to be composed of 3 scientific 
members and 1 general public member.

Citrus Disease Subcommittee

    The Citrus Disease Subcommittee was established by the Agricultural 
Act of 2014 (Sec. 7103) to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on 
citrus research, extension, and development needs, engage in regular 
consultation and collaboration with USDA and other organizations 
involved in citrus, and provide recommendations for research and 
extension activities related to citrus disease. The Citrus Disease 
Subcommittee will also advise the Department on the research and 
extension agenda of the Emergency Citrus Disease Research and Extension 
Program, a granting program of the National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture.
    The subcommittee is composed of 9 members who must be a producer of 
citrus with representation from the following States: Three members 
from Arizona or California, five members from Florida, and one member 
from Texas.
    The terms of 6 Citrus Disease Subcommittee will expire on September 
30, 2015. The Citrus Disease Subcommittee is soliciting nominations to 
fill 6 vacant positons for membership; 4 positions are to represent 
Florida and 2 positions are to represent California. Appointed members 
will serve 2-3 years with their terms expiring in September 2017 or 
2018.

    Done at Washington, DC, this 22nd day of July 2016.
Ann Bartuska,
Deputy Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 2016-17971 Filed 7-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-03-P