Invitation for Nominations to the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics

Federal Register: June 21, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 118)

Notices

Page 34972-34973

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr21jn10-35

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service

Notice of Invitation for Nominations to the Advisory Committee on

Agriculture Statistics

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), USDA.

ACTION: Solicitation of Nominations for Advisory Committee on

Agriculture Statistics Membership.

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.

On May 17, 2010, the Secretary of Agriculture renewed the Advisory

Committee charter for another 2 years. 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 of major suppliers and users of agriculture statistics.

DATES: Nominations must be received by July 9, 2010 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be mailed to Joe Reilly, Associate

Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S.

Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 5041A

South Building, Washington, DC 20250-2000. In addition, nominations may be mailed electronically to HQ_OA@nass.usda.gov. In addition to mailed correspondence to the addresses listed above, nominations may also be faxed to (202) 720-9013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Reilly, Associate Administrator,

National Agricultural Statistics Service, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Nominations should include the following information: name, title, organization, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. Each person nominated is required to complete an

Advisory Committee Membership Background Information form. This form may be requested by telephone, fax, or e-mail using the information above. Forms will also be available from the NASS home page http:// www.nass.usda.gov by selecting ``About NASS,'' ``Advisory Committee on

Agriculture Statistics.'' The ``Advisory Committee for Agricultural

Statistics'' button is in the right column. Completed forms may be faxed to the number above, mailed, or completed and e-mailed directly from the Internet site.

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 keeps NASS informed of emerging issues in the agriculture community that can affect agriculture statistics activities.

The Committee, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, consists of 20 members representing a broad range of disciplines and interests, including, but not limited to, producers, representatives of national farm organizations, agricultural economists, rural sociologists, farm policy analysts, educators, State agriculture representatives, and agriculture-related business and marketing experts.

Members serve staggered 2-year terms, with terms for half of the

Committee members expiring in any given year. Nominations are being sought for 20 open Committee seats. Members can serve up to 3 terms for a total of 6 consecutive years. The Chairperson of the Committee shall be elected 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.

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

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the Administrator of NASS may request. The Committee will meet at least annually. All meetings are open to the public. Committee members are reimbursed for official travel expenses only.

Send questions, comments, and requests for additional information to the e-mail address, fax number, or address listed above.

Signed at Washington, DC, May 25, 2010.

Joseph T. Reilly,

Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

FR Doc. 2010-14843 Filed 6-18-10; 8:45 am

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