[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 111 (Friday, June 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37847-37848]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12372]


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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 hybrid 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 and 
accessible in-person and virtually. During this public meeting, the 
ACMF will consider USDA programs, services, and policies, and how they 
impact minority farmers. 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 June 27-29, 2023, from 
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. eastern daylight time (EDT)--each day.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting Pre-Registration: The public is asked to pre-register for 
the meeting by June 26, 2023, at https://ems8.intellor.com/?do=register&t=1&p=848053.
    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.

[[Page 37848]]

    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. EDT.
    Written Comments: Written comments for consideration during the 
public meeting are requested by or before 3 p.m. EDT, June 26, 2023. 
The ACMF prefers that all written comments be submitted electronically 
via the pre-registration link or emailed to: [email protected]. 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 7 days after the public meeting.
    Availability of Meeting Materials: All written public comments 
received by June 29, 2023, will be compiled for committee members' 
review. Please visit: https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/advisory-committee-on-minority-farmers to review the agenda, meeting documents 
(notices), and summary minutes for this meeting.
    Location: The ACMF public advisory meeting will be held at the 
Westin Savannah Harbor, 1 Resort Drive, Savannah, Georgia. Public 
attendees may register upon arrival beginning 8:30 a.m. each day. 
Public parking is available onsite for $20.00 per day.
    Virtual Participation: Public participants may also view the 
committee proceedings and presentations via Webex at https://ems8.intellor.com/login/848046. Meeting ID and passcode is not 
required.
    The call-in numbers and code for listen-only access are as follows:
    U.S. Toll Free: 888-251-2949.
    U.S. Toll: 215-861-0694.
    Access Code: 8624 273#.

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 daylight 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: Following on from the public meeting held in Tucson, AZ, 
the ACMF will review and revisit those agency documents, accompanying 
transcripts, subsequent research, and public comments, on USDA 
programs, services, and policies. During the upcoming meeting, the ACMF 
will focus on overarching topics distilled from prior presentations, 
updated research, and planning discussions, to consider and build final 
recommendations in the following order: Farm Service Agency (county 
committees; heirs' property); Rural Development (section 504 
Dilapidated Housing; Health Care Infrastructure); Agricultural 
Marketing Services (community-based support; funding for food and other 
services; outreach and dissemination of information; specific requests 
of AMS subject matter experts); United States Department of Agriculture 
around these topics relevant for all agencies: Outreach and 
Communications--Build and Expand--Better and Smarter to effectively 
reach and engage more people in hard-to-reach places and situations; 
eliminate systemic and transactional barriers (particularly those that 
are unique to 1890s); and manage through impediments to build or 
rebuild rural infrastructure (e.g., hospitals, healthcare centers, 
power grids) and encouraging youth engagement in agriculture. And 
finally, the ACMF will consider recommendations for alternative means 
by which the USDA may more equitably manage its internal processes, 
incorporate efficiencies to make those processes more user-friendly for 
new minority farming or ranching businesses, and deliver enhanced 
support for those farmers and ranchers with existing operations in 
minority farming communities.

    Dated: June 6, 2023.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-12372 Filed 6-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3412-88-P