[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17790-17791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06053]


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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 solicitation for members.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of Partnerships 
and Public Engagement (OPPE) is seeking nominations for individuals to 
serve on the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers (``Advisory 
Committee''). The Advisory Committee consists of 15 members who are 
expected to serve a 2-year term and may be reappointed for an 
additional two terms. Advisory Committee members will represent 
historically underserved farmers and farming communities and should 
also reflect the diversity of agriculture in geography, size, scale, 
type of production. The membership shall include: six (6) or more 
farmers or ranchers; two (2) or more individuals from minority serving

[[Page 17791]]

institutions of higher education; two (2) or more individuals from 
community-based nonprofit organizations; and two (2) or more 
individuals with civil rights and equity expertise.

DATES: All nomination packages received by April 24, 2023 will be 
considered.

ADDRESSES: Nominations may be submitted electronically to the Advisory 
Committee's dedicated email inbox at [email protected]. Nominations may 
also be sent via first-class mail to: Advisory Committee on Minority 
Farmers, Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 0601, Room 524-A, Washington, DC 
20250. All nominations received prior to the deadline under DATES 
(above) will be considered.

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].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Member Nominations. Any interested person or organization may 
nominate individuals for membership. Interested candidates may nominate 
themselves. Nomination packages will require a cover letter to the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the nominee's resume which should be 
limited to five one-sided pages. For resumes received that are more 
than five one-sided pages in length, only the first five pages will be 
reviewed. A completed and signed USDA Advisory Committee Membership 
Background Information form (AD-755) is also required. A fillable form 
AD-755 may be accessed here: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-755.pdf. Endorsements, letters of recommendations, 
nominee's writings or published papers related to reducing barriers to 
accessing public programs and services, addressing historic 
discrimination and disparities, or other topics reflecting a nominee's 
experience and perspectives, are optional.
    Nomination for membership is open to the public within the United 
States and its territories (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, 
Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna 
Islands). Final selection of Advisory Committee members is made by the 
Secretary.
    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 selects a 
diverse group of members representing a broad spectrum of persons to 
recommend solutions to the challenges of minority farmers and ranchers.
    The Advisory Committee will meet no less than once annually to 
advise the Secretary of Agriculture on: (1) implementation of the 
Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers 
and Ranchers Program (also known as the 2501 Program) under section 
2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 2279); (2) methods that maximize the participation of minority 
farmers and ranchers in U.S. Department of Agriculture programs; (3) 
civil rights activities within the Department, as such activities 
relate to participants in such programs. Advisory Committee public 
meetings may be held in hybrid style giving participants the choice to 
attend in person or virtually.
    Equal opportunity practices in accordance with USDA's policies will 
be followed in all appointments to the Committee. To ensure that the 
recommendations of the Committee have taken in account the needs of the 
diverse groups served by USDA, membership shall include to the extent 
possible, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent 
minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. The USDA prohibits 
discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of 
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 
status, family/parental status, political beliefs, income derived from 
a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or 
retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity 
conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). This 
Advisory Committee is statutorily mandated, and its members may be 
designated as Representatives or Special Government Employees (SGEs). 
SGEs are appointed for their personal knowledge, academic scholarship, 
background, and expertise in specific subject matter areas as may be 
required during their terms.
    Additional guidance on submitting nominations and a fillable AD-755 
(pdf) background disclosure form can be found on the Advisory Committee 
on Minority Farmers' website at https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/advisory-committee-on-minority-farmers.

    Dated: March 20, 2023.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-06053 Filed 3-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3412-88-P