[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 140 (Friday, July 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34536-34537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15551]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 140 / Friday, July 20, 2018 / 
Notices  

[[Page 34536]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


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

AGENCY: Research, Education, and Economics, USDA.

ACTION: Solicitation for membership.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announces the opening of the 
solicitation for nominations to fill vacancies on the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics (NAREEE) 
Advisory Board and its subcommittees. There are eight vacancies on the 
NAREEE Advisory Board; three vacancies on the Specialty Crop Committee; 
six vacancies on the Citrus Disease Subcommittee; and two vacancies on 
the National Genetics Advisory Council.

DATES: All nomination materials should be submitted in a single, 
complete package and received or postmarked by August 10, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The nominee's name, resume or CV, completed and signed Form 
AD-755, and any letters of support must be submitted via one of the 
following methods: (1) Email to [email protected]; (2) By fax to 
202-720-6199; or (3) By mail delivery service to: REE Advisory Board 
Office, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 
332-A, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-2255.

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 website: 
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. Nomination letters must 
indicate the specific category(s) or subcommittee for which the nominee 
is applying (i.e., for the Specialty Crop Committee or the National 
Genetics Advisory Council). Nominees may be considered for more than 
one category and/or subcommittee dependent on qualifications. Each 
nominee must submit a signed form AD-755, ``Advisory Committee 
Membership Background Information,'' which can be obtained from the 
contact person below or from: https://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/AD-755%20-%20Approved%20Master%202015.pdf).
    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, individuals may not serve on more than one USDA 
Federal Advisory Committee. Lobbyists who are registered with the 
Federal Government and who are selected to serve on committees to 
exercise their own individual best judgment on behalf of the government 
(e.g., as Special Government Employees) are ineligible to serve.
    All nominees will be carefully reviewed for their expertise, 
leadership, and relevance. All nominees will be vetted before 
selection.
    Appointments to the NAREEE Advisory Board and its subcommittees 
will be made by the Secretary of Agriculture.
    NAREEE Advisory Board: The NAREEE 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 NAREEE 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 Board's 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 1-, 2-, and 3-year term, respectively. The 
terms for eight members who represent specific categories will expire 
September 30, 2018. Nominations are for a 3-year appointment for these 
eight vacant categories. All nominees will be carefully reviewed for 
their expertise, leadership, and relevance to a category. Nominations 
for multiple categories is acceptable. Please note nomination

[[Page 34537]]

categories on the AD-755 or nomination letter.
    The eight slots to be filled are:

Category A. National Farm Organization
Category C. Food Animal Commodity Producer
Category I. National Human Health Association
Category N. Non-Land Grant College or University With Historic 
Commitment to Research in Food and Agricultural Sciences
Category O. Hispanic-serving Institutions
Category Q. Transportation of food and agricultural products to 
domestic and foreign markets
Category R. Food Retailing and Marketing Interests
Category S. Food and Fiber Processors

    Specialty Crop Committee: The Specialty Crop Committee was created 
as a subcommittee of the NAREEE Advisory Board 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. Six members of the Specialty Crop Committee are also members 
of the NAREEE Advisory Board and six members represent various 
disciplines of the specialty crop industry. The terms of three members 
will expire on September 30, 2018. The Specialty Crop Committee is 
soliciting nominations to fill three vacant positions to represent the 
specialty crop industry. Appointed members will serve three years with 
their terms expiring in September 2021.
    National Genetic Resources Advisory Council: The National Genetic 
Resources Advisory Council was re-established in 2012 as a permanent 
subcommittee of the 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, part of the Agricultural 
Research Service, of new and innovative approaches to genetic resources 
conservation.
    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 two members of the National Genetic Resources Advisory 
Council will expire on September 30, 2018. The two slots to be filled 
are to be composed of one scientific members and one general public 
member. Appointed members will serve three-year appointments expiring 
in September 2021.
    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 nine 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 six Citrus Disease Subcommittee will expire on 
September 30, 2018. The Citrus Disease Subcommittee is soliciting 
nominations to fill six vacant positions for membership; three 
positions are to represent Florida, two positions are to represent 
California or Arizona, and one position is to represent Texas. 
Appointed members will serve three years with their terms expiring in 
September 2021.

    Done at Washington, DC, this day of June 3, 2018.
Chavonda Jacobs-Young,
Acting Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics, Acting 
Chief Scientist.
[FR Doc. 2018-15551 Filed 7-19-18; 8:45 am]
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