[Federal Register: June 17, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 116)]
[Notices]
[Page 35221-35222]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17jn05-15]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 35221]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
Request for Public Comments To Be Used in Developing USDA
Recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meetings and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a series of public forums that senior
officials of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will
hold to obtain public input for the development of the 2007 Farm Bill.
The 2002 Farm Bill, officially entitled the Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 2002 (the 2002 Act; Publ. L. 107-171), authorizes
many of the programs operated by USDA such as the farm price and income
support programs and expires with the 2007 crop year. Many other key
programs specified in the 2002 Act expire at the end of fiscal year
2007. New legislation will need to be enacted prior to the expiration
of the 2002 Act.
USDA intends to develop recommendations for the new farm bill and
believes that public input is essential to the process by which these
recommendations will be developed. This process requires an assessment
of the performance of current programs operated under the 2002 Act as
well as of possible alternative programs for the next farm bill.
The public forums will be held at various locations in the United
States during 2005. The dates, locations, and times of the forums will
be announced by USDA press release (available at http://www.usda.gov).
The public will be invited to attend the forums and to present oral
comments.
The primary topics addressed at the forums will reflect various
concerns affecting rural America such as commodity, conservation, and
rural economic development issues. However, some forums will be
dedicated to other important programs authorized by the farm bill such
as food assistance, research, and education programs. Topics for these
discussions will be announced via USDA press release.
In addition, this notice provides the public the opportunity to
comment in writing on key issues that USDA expects to address in the
development of its recommendations. USDA will review the public
comments received, including any analyses, reports, studies, and other
material submitted with the comments, that address the questions
specified below.
DATES: Comments must be received by December 30, 2005.
ADDRESSES: We invite interested persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments will be accepted at public forums and may also be
submitted electronically (preferred) or by postal mail. Comments may be
submitted electronically via the Internet at the USDA home page (http://www.usda.gov
) by selected ``Farm Bill Forums.'' Comments may also be
submitted by any of the following methods:
E-mail: Send comments to: FarmBill@usda.gov
Mail: Send comments to: Secretary of Agriculture Mike
Johanns, Farm Bill, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20250-3355.
Hand delivery or courier: Deliver comments to Room 116A at
the above address.
All comments, including names and addresses, provided by
respondents are a matter of public record. Comments may be inspected at
the Department of Agriculture. To arrange for inspection, please
contact the Office of the Executive Secretariat, Room 116A, Jamie L.
Whitten Federal Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20250-3355.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: USDA/OES, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3355. By telephone: USDA's Office of
Communications at (202) 720-9002. By e-mail: FarmBill@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Key Issues for Comment
USDA is seeking public comments on the following farm policy
considerations:
1. The competitiveness of U.S. agriculture in global and domestic
markets.
As bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade negotiations
continue to result in reduced barriers to international trade, exports
and imports of agricultural products are expected to become
increasingly important factors in U.S. and global agriculture.
Obtaining ever-greater access to growing foreign markets and being
increasingly competitive in these and in domestic markets is essential
for farm economic growth. One key factor in our ability to be
competitive depends on the types of products demanded around the world
in the next 10 to 20 years and our ability to produce products that
meet this world demand.
How should farm policy be designed to maximize U.S. competitiveness
and our country's ability to compete effectively in global markets?
2. The challenges facing new farmers and ranchers as they enter
agriculture.
Some observers note that while farm policy has served agriculture
and the country well in the past there are ``unintended consequences''
that should be addressed, such as the capitalization of program
benefits into land prices. These higher land prices are cited as a
barrier to entry into agriculture for new farmers; a factor in reduced
profit for existing farmers; and a cause of weakened competitive
position on the part of U.S. farmers compared with farmers in countries
with lower-priced land.
How should farm policy address any unintended consequences and
ensure that such consequences do not discourage new farmers and the
next generation of farmers from entering production agriculture?
3. The appropriateness and effectiveness of the distribution of
farm program benefits.
A longstanding goal of farm policy has been to enhance and
stabilize farm prices and incomes. Current farm programs, including
crop insurance, distribute assistance based on past and current
production levels. Some argue that the current farm support system
encourages increases in farm size and results in the disproportionate
[[Page 35222]]
distribution of program benefits to large farms. It has also been
suggested that program incentives lead to increased production and
lower market prices.
How should farm policy be designed to effectively and fairly
distribute assistance to producers?
4. The achievement of conservation and environmental goals.
While producing food and fiber are essential functions, agriculture
also plays a major role in natural resource stewardship. Some have
suggested that future farm policy might be anchored around the
provision of tangible benefits such as cleaner water and air. Such an
approach may be consistent with future World Trade Organization
obligations on domestic support to agriculture, while also expanding
farm programs to extend more broadly across agriculture, including
private forest lands.
How can farm policy best achieve conservation and environmental
goals?
5. The enhancement of rural economic growth.
Farming and rural America once were almost synonomous. Over the
years, the demographic and economic characteristics of rural areas have
changed, as has farming's role in the rural economy. This raises the
issue of whether more Government attention should be focused on
investing in the infrastructure in rural America (for example,
investing in new technologies).
How can Federal rural and farm programs provide effective
assistance in rural areas?
6. Opportunities to expand agricultural products, markets, and
research.
Changes in farm and market structure over past decades have led to
suggestions that farm policy could be more flexible by enabling greater
support for a broader range of activities helpful to agriculture market
expansion. Examples are: Attention to product quality and new
attributes; organic and specialty crops; value-added products,
including renewable energy and bioproducts and new uses for farm
products generally; expanded basic and applied research; domestic and
foreign market development; and similar activities.
How should these agricultural product, marketing, and research-
related issues be addressed in the next farm bill?
This notice is being issued to obtain public comment regarding the
next farm bill. There are no regulatory findings associated with this
notice.
Signed in Washington, DC, on June 8, 2005.
Mike Johanns,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 05-11787 Filed 6-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M