Notice of Invitation for Nominations to the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics

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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