[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 48 (Monday, March 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15370-15371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05052]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement


Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers

AGENCY: Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public virtual meeting.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA), notice is hereby given that a public meeting of 
the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers (ACMF) will be convened. 
During this public meeting, the ACMF will consider USDA programs, 
services, and policies, and how they impact minority farmers. USDA 
Secretary Thomas Vilsack is committed to actions that enhance minority 
farmers' ability to produce and thrive as businesses through USDA's 
customer service enhancements, expanded outreach, technical assistance, 
and capacity building. The ACMF seeks to recommend action-oriented 
strategies that maximize the participation of minority farmers in USDA 
programs and services.

DATES: The ACMF public meeting is scheduled for March 28-30, 2023, from 
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time (MT)--each day.
    Meeting Pre-Registration:
    The public is asked to pre-register for the meeting by March 27, 
2023, at https://ems8.intellor.com/?do=register&t=1&p=847170.
    Your pre-registration should include: your name; organization or 
interest represented; if you plan to give oral comments; and if you 
require special accommodations. USDA will also accept day-of 
registrations throughout the meeting. Time will be allotted at the end 
of each morning and afternoon for comments from those attending in 
person or virtually. USDA will allow as many individual and 
organizational comments as time permits.
    Oral Comments: Persons or organizations may register for one 
speaking slot per day. All persons wanting to make oral comments during 
the in-person meeting may check-in each day at the registration table 
beginning 8:30 a.m. MT. If the number of registrants requesting to 
speak is greater than what can be reasonably accommodated during the 
session timeframe, OPPE may conduct a lottery to determine the speakers 
for the scheduled public comment session.
    Written Comments: Written comments for consideration during the 
public meeting are requested by or before 3:00 p.m. MT, March 30, 2023. 
The ACMF prefers that all written comments be submitted electronically 
via the pre-registration link or emailed to the person listed in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section (below). However, written 
comments may also be submitted (i.e., postmarked) via first class mail 
to the address listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
(below) prior to the deadline. Written comments will be accepted up to 
15 days after the public meeting.
    Availability of Meeting Materials: All written public comments 
received by March 28, 2023, will be compiled and available for ACMF 
member review. Duplicate comments from multiple individuals may be 
considered as one comment, with a notation that multiple copies of the 
comment were received. Please visit https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/advisory-committee-on-minority-farmers to review the agenda, meeting 
documents (e.g., presentations), and minutes for this meeting.
    Location: The ACMF public advisory meeting will be held at the 
University of Arizona's BIO5 Institute (Thomas W. Keating Bioresearch 
Building), 1657 E. Helen St., Tucson, AZ. Public attendees may register 
upon arrival beginning 8:30 a.m. each day.
    Parking is available at the Highland Avenue Garage, 1240 N Highland 
Ave. Tucson, AZ. Drivers may park at the Highland Avenue Garage for $8 
per day, using the Passport Parking application which may be downloaded 
onto a smartphone. The validation code for the Highland Avenue Garage 
is 52028. You will also need to include your license plate number.
    Virtual Participation: Public participants may also view the 
committee proceedings and presentations via Zoom at https://ems8.intellor.com/login/847168. Meeting ID and passcode is not 
required.
    The call-in numbers and code for listen-only access are:

US Toll Free: 888-251-2949
US Toll: 215-861-0694
Access Code: 7534 676#

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. R. Jeanese Cabrera, Designated 
Federal Officer, Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 0601, Room 524-A, Washington, DC 
20250; Phone: (202) 720-6350; Email: [email protected]. Individuals who use 
telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the FCC 
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) at 7-1-1 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee was established pursuant to 
section 14008 of the Food Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, Public 
Law 110-246, 122 Stat. 1651, 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2279), to ensure that 
socially disadvantaged farmers have equal access to USDA programs. The 
Secretary selected a diverse group of members representing a broad 
spectrum of persons to recommend solutions to the challenges of 
minority farmers and ranchers. The members also advise the Secretary on 
implementation of section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (the 2501 Program); maximizing the participation 
of minority farmers and ranchers in USDA programs; and civil rights 
activities within the Department relative to participants in its 
programs.
    Agenda: USDA agencies will deliver presentations that update the 
ACMF with the status of relevant programs, services, and policies. 
Thereafter, the ACMF will explore and examine challenges specific to 
minority farming communities, including but not limited to: (1) 
infrastructure and housing; (2) economically viable, ecologically 
sound, and climate-smart farming and ranching (e.g., planning, 
building, and business expansion); (3) barriers to minority

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farmer and rancher (i.e., producers and farm workers) participation in 
USDA programs, services, and partnerships; (4) barriers to capital 
access, land acquisition, debt management; and (5) adverse economic 
impacts of farming and ranching risk management. The ACMF will submit 
recommendations on these and related topics for the Secretary's 
consideration. The ACMF specifically seeks to engage and hear directly 
from a broad geographical base of minority farmers and ranchers on 
their experiences, pathways, and challenges as they contend with severe 
weather events or continued barriers of entry to economically 
sustainable farming. A final agenda will be available 48 hours prior to 
the first day of the public meeting minority-farmers) for a final 
agenda within 48 hours prior to Day 1 of the public meeting. https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/advisory-committee-on-minority-farmers.

    Dated: March 7, 2024.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-05052 Filed 3-10-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3412-88-P