[Federal Register: August 14, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 156)]
[Notices]
[Page 45413]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14au07-34]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
Notice of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
Education, and Economics Advisory Board Specialty Crop Meeting and
Executive Committee Meeting
AGENCY: Research, Education, and Economics, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5
U.S.C. App 2, the United States Department of Agriculture announces a
meeting of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education,
and Economics Advisory Board Specialty Crop Committee and Executive
Committee.
DATES: The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and
Economics Advisory Board Specialty Crop Committee will meet on August
29, 2007 and the Executive Committee will hold a meeting on August 29-
30, 2007 at the Double Tree Hotel, 1150 Ninth Place, Modesto,
California.
ADDRESSES: The public may file written comments before or up to two
weeks after the meeting with the contact person. You may submit
comments by any of the following methods: E-mail:
smorgan@csrees.usda.gov; Fax: (202) 720-6199; Mail/Hand-Delivery or
Courier: The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and
Economics Advisory Board; Research, Education, and Economics Advisory
Board Office, Room 344-A, Jamie L. Whitten Building, United States
Department of Agriculture, STOP 2255, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250-2255.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shirley Morgan-Jordan, Program Support
Coordinator, National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and
Economics Advisory Board; telephone: (202) 720-8408.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Wednesday, August 29, 2007, from 9 a.m.
to 2 p.m., the Specialty Crop Committee will hold a listening session
to study the scope and effectiveness of research, extension, and
economics programs affecting the specialty crop industry. The purpose
of this Specialty Crop meeting is to obtain regional input on research
and education issues of high priority focusing on ``Measures to Improve
the Efficiency, Productivity and Profitability of Specialty Crop
Production in the United States'' and ``Measures Designed to Improve
Competitiveness to Research, Extension, and Economics Programs
Affecting the Specialty Crop Industry.'' Particular emphasis will be
placed on further elaborating on the committee's last report entitled
``U.S. Specialty Crops: An Update on Opportunities and Challenges'',
which was released May 9, 2007.
On Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at 9 a.m., the general meeting will
begin with introductory remarks provided by the Chair of the Specialty
Crop Committee. The REE Under Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Gale
Buchanan, has been invited to provide opening remarks. Distinguished
leaders and experts, organizations or institutions, local producers, or
other groups interested in the issues with which the Specialty Crop
Committee is charged are invited to provide comments on two or three of
the most important recommendations from their perspective by which USDA
can enhance its research, extension, education, and economic programs
to address needs of our nation's specialty crop sector. Following the
adjournment of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
Education, and Economics Advisory Board Specialty Crop Committee
Listening Session on August 29, 2007, the Executive Committee will hold
their meeting on Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Double Tree
Hotel, 1150 Ninth Place, Modesto, California. On Thursday, August 30,
2007, the Executive Committee will reconvene at 7:30 a.m. and complete
all discussions to adjourn by 9:30 a.m. The Executive Committee will be
discussing a number of issues relating to the Specialty Crop Committee
and other forthcoming National Agricultural Research, Extension,
Education, and Economics Advisory Board concerns.
Written comments by attendees or other interested stakeholders will
be welcomed for the public record before and up to two weeks following
the Board meeting (by close of business Wednesday, September 12, 2007).
The findings of the Specialty Crop Committee and Executive Committee
will be based on input from speakers, other stakeholders, the general
public, and Board discussions. These findings will be forwarded to the
Advisory Board, which in turn will provide recommendations to the
Secretary of Agriculture and the House and Senate agriculture-related
committee/subcommittees of the U.S. Congress, as well as the land-grant
colleges and universities, as mandated. All statements will become a
part of the official record of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board and will be kept on
file for public review in the Research, Extension, Education, and
Economics Advisory Board Office.
Done at Washington, DC this 7th day of August, 2007.
Merle Pierson,
Deputy Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. E7-15918 Filed 8-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P