[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54987-54988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22420]
========================================================================
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 24, 2008 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 54987]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
7 CFR Chapter XXXIV
Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding the Beginning
Farmer and Rancher Development Program
AGENCY: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for stakeholder input.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service (CSREES) is implementing a newly funded competitive grants
program called the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. By
this notice, CSREES is designated to act on behalf of the Secretary of
Agriculture in soliciting public comments and stakeholder input from
persons who use or conduct research, extension or education, training,
outreach and technical assistance regarding the implementing regulation
to be developed for this newly funded program, as required under
section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, as
amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA).
DATES: The meeting will be held on Monday, October 27, 2008, from 9
a.m. to 1 p.m. All comments must be received by close of business on
Friday, November 14, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in rooms 1410A-D, Waterfront Centre
Building, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service,
United States Department of Agriculture, 800 9th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20024. Meeting participants will need to provide photo
identification to be admitted to the building. Please allow sufficient
time to go through security. You may submit comments, identified by
CSREES-2008-0003, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: [email protected]. Include CSREES-2008-0003 in the
subject line of the message.
Fax: 202-401-1782.
Mail: Paper, disk or CD-ROM submissions should be submitted to
BFRDP; Competitive Programs (CP) Unit, Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP
2240, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-2240.
Hand Delivery/Courier: BFRDP, Competitive Programs (CP) Unit,
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Room 2457, Waterfront Centre, 800 9th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20024.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and reference to CSREES-2008-0003. All comments received will be posted
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Paulette Smith, (202) 401-1761
(phone), (202) 401-1782 (fax), or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Additional Meeting and Comment Procedures
Because of the diversity of subjects, and to aid participants in
scheduling their attendance, the following schedule is anticipated for
the October 27, 2008, meeting:
9 a.m.-9:30 a.m.--Introduction to Beginning Farmer and Rancher
Development Program (program purposes and background information).
9:30 a.m.-10 a.m.--Eligibility and matching funds.
10 a.m.-10:30 a.m.--Partnerships.
10:30 a.m.-11 a.m.--Outcomes-based reporting, communication of findings
and results beyond the immediate target audience, and best practices.
11 a.m.-11:30 a.m.--Educational teams.
11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.--Curriculum and Training Clearinghouse; purpose &
reporting of materials.
12 p.m.-12:30 p.m.--Funding priorities.
12:30 p.m.-1 p.m.--Issues pertaining to BFRDP funding priorities and
administration.
Persons wishing to present oral comments at the October 27, 2008,
meeting are requested to pre-register by contacting Ms. Paulette Smith
at (202) 401-1761, by fax at (202) 401-1782 or by e-mail to
[email protected]. Participants may reserve one 5-minute comment.
More time may be available, depending on the number of people wishing
to make a presentation and the time needed for questions following
presentations. Reservations will be confirmed on a first-come, first-
served basis. All other attendees may register at the meeting. All
comments must be received by close of business Friday, November 14,
2008, to be considered. All comments and the official transcript of the
meeting, when they become available, may be reviewed on the CSREES Web
page for six months. Participants who require a sign language
interpreter or other special accommodations should contact Ms. Smith as
directed above. Additional forums will occur after the public meeting
to obtain public comments for use in developing the proposed rule for
the new BFRDP program. These forums will be announced through the
CSREES Web page: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/business/reporting/stakeholder/ec_stakeholder.html.
Background and Purpose
Section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(Pub. L. 107-171) as amended in the FCEA (Pub. L. 110-246) authorized
the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants to new and
established local and regional training, education, outreach, and
technical assistance initiatives that address the needs of beginning
farmers and ranchers. The Secretary may award a Beginning Farmer and
Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) grant to a collaborative State,
tribal, local or regionally based network or partnership of public or
private entities, which may include: A State cooperative extension
service; a Federal, State or tribal agency; a community-based and
nongovernmental organization; a college or university (including an
institution awarding an associate's degree) or foundation maintained by
a college or university; or any other appropriate partner, as
determined by the Secretary. Grants shall be awarded to address needs
of beginning farmers and ranchers in the following areas: Mentoring,
[[Page 54988]]
apprenticeships, and internships; resources and referrals; assisting
beginning farmers or ranchers in acquiring land from retiring farmers
and ranchers; innovative farm and ranch transfer strategies;
entrepreneurship and business training; model land leasing contracts;
financial management training; whole farm planning; conservation
assistance; risk management education; diversification and marketing
strategies; curriculum development; understanding the impact of
concentration and globalization; basic livestock and crop farming
practices; the acquisition and management of agricultural credit;
environmental compliance; information processing; and other similar
subject areas of use to beginning farmers or ranchers. The authority to
carry out this program has been delegated to CSREES through the Under
Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.
CSREES is holding a public meeting to obtain comments to use in
developing the proposed rule for the newly funded BFRDP. The meeting
will solicit comments regarding the implementation of BFRDP. The
meeting is open to the public. Written comments and suggestions may be
submitted to the CSREES Docket Clerk at the address above.
Summary of Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
For fiscal year (FY) 2009, $18 million has been made available for
the BFRDP. Not less than 25 percent of funds used to carry out the
BFRDP for a fiscal year shall be used to support programs and services
that address the needs of limited resource beginning farmers or
ranchers; socially disadvantaged beginning farmers or ranchers; and
farmworkers desiring to become farmers or ranchers. All applicants are
required to provide funds or in-kind support from non-Federal sources
in an amount that is at least equal to 25 percent of the Federal funds
requested. In making BFRDP grants, priority will be given to
partnerships and collaborations that are led by or include
nongovernmental and community-based organizations with expertise in new
agricultural producer training and outreach. Geographical diversity
will be ensured to the maximum extent practicable.
Implementation Plans
CSREES plans to consider stakeholder input received from this
public meeting and subsequent public forums as well as other written
comments in developing an implementing regulation for this program.
CSREES anticipates releasing a Request for Applications (RFA) by mid-
January 2009.
Done at Washington, DC, this 19th day of September, 2008.
Colien Hefferan,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-22420 Filed 9-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P