[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 132 (Wednesday, July 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56727-56728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15069]


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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 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 and 
policies and their impacts on minority farmers. The ACMF will recommend 
action-oriented strategies that maximize the participation of minority 
farmers in USDA programs and services.

DATES: The ACMF public meeting is scheduled for July 23-25, 2024. On 
Day 1 (July 23) the meeting will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Committee Members will breakout for 
visits with local stakeholders between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. On Days 
2 and 3 (July 24 and 25), the public meeting is scheduled from 9:00 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT.

Meeting Pre-Registration

    The public is asked to pre-register for the meeting by July 22, 
2024, at https://events.intellor.com/?do=register&t=7&p=509151. Once 
registered you will immediately receive an email that lists separate 
links for each day should you choose to participate virtually. Your 
pre-registration should include: your name; organization or interest 
represented; if you plan to attend in-person or virtually, make 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. EDT.
    Written Comments: Written comments for consideration during the 
public meeting are requested by or before 3:00 p.m. EDT, June 22, 2024. 
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. 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. All written public comments received by 
August 2, 2024, will be compiled for committee members' review.
    Availability of Meeting Materials: 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.

ADDRESSES: This public advisory meeting will be held at the Tarrytown 
House Estate on the Hudson, 49 East Sunnyside Lane, Tarrytown, NY 
10591. Public attendees are asked to sign-in upon arrival to the 
Carriage House (meeting room), beginning 8:30 a.m. each day. Onsite 
public parking is available free of charge.
    Virtual Participation: Public participants may also follow the 
committee proceedings and presentations via the following links listed 
by date. Please note that for security purposes each link is unique. 
Meeting ID and passcode is not required.

Day 1: Jul 23, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. EDT; https://events.intellor.com/login/509150
Day 2: Jul 24, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT; https://events.intellor.com/login/509157
Day 3: Jul 25, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT; https://events.intellor.com/login/509158

    For listen-only access, the call-in number and code is:

US Toll Free: 888-978-8818 or US Toll: 202-735-3323 Access Code: 
5502994#

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. R. Jeanese Cabrera, Designated 
Federal

[[Page 56728]]

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 8:00 a.m. and 
8:00 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 (i.e., minority farmers) have equal 
access to USDA programs. The committee 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.
    The Secretary appoints a diverse group of committee members who 
represent the broadest possible range of minority farmers, ranchers, 
and stakeholders--bringing their lived-experiences to the fore. These 
representative committee members look closely at challenges and issues 
adversely affecting many minority farming communities; consider ways to 
bridge the gap in customer service delivery; examine continued barriers 
to program participation (e.g., how the USDA might lessen the burdens 
of process and procedure); and needful action through which minority 
farmers and ranchers might finally attain equity in agricultural 
pursuits with USDA assistance.
    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its 
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on 
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 
status, family or parental status, 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). Remedies and 
complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
    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 into account the needs of 
the diverse groups served by the Department, membership shall include, 
to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to 
represent the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, 
backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and beliefs of the American people, 
including underserved communities.
    Agenda: On Day 1 (July 23), the public meeting will begin with 
Committee member introductions and overview and comments from the 
Chairperson. The Committee will next hear from the USDA Equity 
Commission Co-Chairpersons, who will share about the Commission and its 
accomplishments in the first term and their shared vision for the USDA. 
Leadership from USDA's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil 
Rights will follow with an opening keynote address. The first day of 
the public meeting will end at 1:00 p.m. after which the Committee 
members will visit with local producers in New York State.
    On Days 2 and 3 (July 24 and 25), the Committee will review 
specific topics from its most recent set of recommendations (July 
2023). The members will engage with USDA agencies on status updates, 
discussions on implementation and timelines for recommendations (as 
appropriate). The following agencies will report out and update the 
Committee over the course of two days: Farm Service Agency; Office 
Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, Rural Development; 
Agricultural Marketing Services; National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (Ag Census); Forest Services; National Institutes of Food and 
Agriculture; Office of the Secretary (OPPE) on topics in outreach and 
communications; history of the 1890 institutions; and several invited 
speakers will explore the history, current, and projected conditions 
affecting minority farming communities. On Day 3 (July 25) the public 
meeting will end with a moderated discussion led by Equity Commission 
Members on the topic of contracting with the USDA. On each day there 
will be opportunities for the public to make statements for the 
Committee's consideration and will be made a part of the record of both 
morning and afternoon sessions.

    Dated: July 3, 2024.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-15069 Filed 7-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3412-88-P