[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16693-16694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8381]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Notice of Invitation for Nominations to the Advisory Committee on
Agriculture Statistics
AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
ACTION: Solicitation of nomination for Advisory Committee on
Agriculture Statistics Membership.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5
U.S.C. App. 2, this notice announces an invitation from the Office of
the Secretary of Agriculture for nominations to the Advisory Committee
on Agriculture Statistics.
Effective October 1, 1996, responsibility for the census of
agriculture program was transferred to USDA. Responsibility for the
Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics was transferred from the
Department of Commerce to USDA when the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS) received funding and responsibility for the
census of agriculture beginning in fiscal year 1997. The
reestablishment of this Committee is in the public interest in
accordance with the duties the law imposes on USDA.
The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Secretary of
Agriculture on the scope, timing, content, etc. of the periodic
censuses and surveys of agriculture, other related surveys, and the
types of information to obtain from respondents concerning agriculture.
The Committee also prepares recommendations regarding the content of
agriculture reports and presents the views and needs for data for major
suppliers and users of agriculture statistics.
The Committee draws on the experience and expertise of its members
to form a collective judgment concerning agriculture data collected and
the statistics issued by NASS. This input is vital to keep current with
shifting data needs in the rapidly changing agricultural environment
and keep NASS informed of emerging developments and issues in the
agriculture community that can affect agricultural statistics
activities.
The Committee, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, shall
consist of 25 members representing a broad range of disciplines and
interests, including, but not limited to, representatives of national
farm organizations, agricultural economists, rural sociologists, farm
policy analysts, educators, State agriculture representatives, and
agriculture-related business and marketing experts.
Terms of membership on the Committee will be staggered every 2
years. Initially, approximately one-half of the members selected by the
Secretary in this, the first Advisory Committed on Agriculture
selection process, will service a 1-year term and the other half a 2-
year term. Members selected after this year will serve a full 2-year
term. The Chairperson of the Committed shall be selected by members to
serve a 1-year term.
Equal opportunity practices, in line with USDA policies, will be
followed in all membership appointments to the Committee. To ensure
that the recommendations of the Committee have taken into account the
needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership shall include,
to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to
represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.
Persons nominated for the Advisory Committee on Agriculture
Statistics will be required to complete and submit an Advisory
Committee Membership Background Information questionnaire.
The duties of the Committee are solely advisory. The Committee will
make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture with regards to
the agricultural statistics program of NASS, and such other matters as
it may deem advisable, or which the Secretary of Agriculture, Under
Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, or the Administrator
of NASS may request. The Committee will meet at least annually. All
meetings are open to the public. Committee members will be reimbursed
for official travel expenses only.
DATES: Nominations must be received by May 6, 1999 to be assured of
consideration.
Nominations, Additional Information, or Comments
Nominations should include the following information: name, title,
address, telephone number, and organization, and should be e-mailed to
[email protected], faxed to (202) 720-9013, OR telephoned to Rich
Allen, Associate Administrator, NASS, at (202) 720-4333. Each person
nominated is required to complete an Advisory Committee Membership
Information questionnaire. This form may be requested by telephone,
fax, or e-mail using the information above. Forms are also available on
the Internet through the ``Agency Information,'' ``Advisory Committee
on Agriculture Statistics'' options of the NASS Home Page at
[[Page 16694]]
http://www.usda.gov/nass. Completed questionnaires may be faxed to the
number above, mailed, or completed and e-mailed directly from the
Internet side.
All mailed correspondence should be sent to Rich Allen, Associate
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 4117
South Building, Washington, DC 20250-2000.
Send questions, comments, and requests for additional information
to the e-mail address, fax number, or address listed above.
Signed at Washington, DC, March 31, 1999.
Donald M. Bay,
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
[FR Doc. 99-8381 Filed 4-5-99; 8:45 am]
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