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.

Notices Federal Register

1083 

Vol. 86, No. 4 

Thursday, January 7, 2021 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Establishment of the Urban Agriculture 

and Innovative Production Advisory 

Committee and Solicitation of 

Nominations for Membership on the 

Advisory Committee 

AGENCY: Natural Resources 

Conservation Service, United States 

Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Secretary of USDA 

announces the establishment of the 

Urban Agriculture and Innovative 

Production Advisory Committee (Urban 

Ag Advisory Committee). The 

Committee will advise the Secretary on 

the development of policies and 

outreach relating to urban, indoor, and 

other emerging agricultural production 

practices; and other aspects of the 

implementation section of Subtitle A, 

Section 222 of the Reorganization Act of 

1994. This notice also solicits 

nominations for membership on the 

Urban Ag Advisory Committee. 

DATES: January 7, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: We will consider 

nominations that are postmarked by 

March 8, 2021 to Ronald Harris, 

Designated Federal Officer, Director of 

Outreach and Partnerships, Natural 

Resources Conservation Service, 

Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Room 6006– 

S, Washington, DC 20250; or send by 

email to: Ronald.Harris@usda.gov. 

Ronald Harris, as the Designated Federal 

Officer will acknowledge receipt of 

nominations. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Ronald Harris; telephone: (202) 720– 

6646; email: Ronald.Harris@usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Urban Ag Advisory Committee Purpose 

Section 12302 of the Agriculture 

Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115– 

334, the 2018 Farm Bill) directs the 

Secretary of the USDA to establish an 

‘‘Urban Agriculture and Innovative 

Production Advisory Committee’’ to 

advise the Secretary on the development 

of policies and outreach relating to 

urban, indoor, and other emerging 

agricultural production practices; and 

any other aspects of the implementation 

of section 222 of the Reorganization Act 

of 1994 (Pub. L. 103–354). The Urban 

Ag Advisory Committee will advise the 

Secretary of Agriculture on the 

development of policies and outreach 

relating to urban, indoor, and other 

emerging agricultural production 

practices; and will further develop 

recommendations. 

In addition, the Urban Ag Advisory 

Committee will advise the Director of 

the Office of Urban Agriculture and 

Innovative Production on policies, 

initiatives, and outreach administered 

by that office. The Urban Ag Advisory 

Committee will evaluate and review 

ongoing research and extension 

activities relating to urban, indoor, and 

other innovative agricultural practices; 

identify new and existing barriers to 

successful urban, indoor, and other 

emerging agricultural production 

practices; and provide additional 

assistance and provide advice to the 

Director as appropriate. 

Urban Ag Advisory Committee 

Membership 

The Urban Ag Advisory Committee is 

expected to meet not less than 3 times 

each year, with meetings held at various 

locations across the United States. There 

will be 12 members appointed to the 

Urban Ag Advisory Committee. Of the 

members first appointed to this Urban 

Ag Advisory Committee, as determined 

by the Secretary: 

• 4 of the members will be appointed 

for a term of 3 years; 

• 4 of the members will be appointed 

for a term of 2 years; and 

• 4 of the members will be appointed 

for a term of 1 year. 

Future members will be appointed for 

a term of 3 years. An initial appointee 

of the Urban Ag Advisory Committee 

may serve an additional consecutive 

term if the member is reappointed by 

the Secretary. 

The Urban Ag Advisory Committee 

will be composed of individuals 

representing a broad spectrum of the 

following representation: 

Æ 4 agricultural producers, of 

whom— 

Æ 2 are agricultural producers in an 

urban area or urban cluster; and 

Æ agricultural producers who use 

innovative technology; 

• 2 representatives from an 

institution of higher education or 

extension program; 

• 1 representative of a nonprofit 

organization, which may include a 

public health, environmental, or 

community organization; 

• 1 representative of business and 

economic development, which may 

include a business development entity, 

a chamber of commerce, a city 

government, or a planning organization; 

• 1 individual with supply chain 

experience, which may include a food 

aggregator, wholesale food distributor, 

food hub, or an individual who has 

direct-to-consumer market experience; 

• 1 individual from a financing 

entity; and 

• 2 individuals with related 

experience or expertise in urban, 

indoor, and other emerging agriculture 

production practices, as determined by 

the Secretary. 

Nominees to the Urban Ag Advisory 

Committee will be evaluated on a 

number of criteria, including expertise 

or experience with urban, indoor, and 

other emerging agricultural practices. 

Serving as an Urban Ag Advisory 

Committee member will not constitute 

employment by, or the holding of, an 

office of the United States for the 

purpose of any Federal law. Persons 

selected for membership on the Urban 

Ag Advisory Committee will not receive 

compensation from USDA for their 

service as Urban Ag Advisory 

Committee members, except that while 

away from home or regular place of 

business the member will be eligible for 

travel expenses paid by USDA, 

including per diem in lieu of 

subsistence, at the same rate as a person 

employed intermittently in the 

government service, under 5 U.S.C. 

5703. 

Equal opportunity practices, in line 

with the USDA policies, will be 

followed in all appointments to the 

Urban Ag Advisory Committee. 

To ensure that the recommendations 

of the Urban Ag Advisory Committee 

have taken into account the needs of the 

diverse groups served by the 

Department, membership should 

include, to the extent practicable, 

individuals with demonstrated ability to 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
1084 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 4 / Thursday, January 7, 2021 / Notices 

represent minorities, women, and 

persons with disabilities. 

Member Nominations 

Any interested person or organization 

may nominate qualified individuals for 

membership. Interested candidates may 

nominate themselves. Individuals who 

wish to be considered for membership 

on the Urban Ag Advisory Committee 

must submit a nomination with 

information, including a background 

disclosure form (Form AD–755). 

Nominations should be typed and 

include the following: 

1. A brief summary, no more than two 

pages, explaining the nominee’s 

qualifications to serve on the Urban Ag 

Advisory Committee and addressing the 

criteria described above. 

2. A resume providing the nominee’s 

background, experience, and 

educational qualifications. 

3. A completed background disclosure 

form (Form AD–755) signed by the 

nominee https://www.ocio.usda.gov/ 

sites/default/files/docs/2012/AD-755- 

Approved_Master-exp-3.31.22_508.pdf. 

4. Any recent publications by the 

nominee relative to urban agriculture or 

innovations in urban agricultural 

production (if appropriate). 

5. Letters of endorsement (optional). 

Send typed nominations to Ronald 

Harris, Designated Federal Officer, 

Director of Outreach and Partnerships, 

Natural Resources Conservation Service, 

Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Room 6006– 

S, Washington, DC 20250; telephone: 

(202) 720–6646; email: Ronald.Harris@

usda.gov. Ronald Harris, the Designated 

Federal Officer, will acknowledge 

receipt of nominations. 

Equal Opportunity Statement 

To ensure that recommendations of 

the Urban Ag Advisory Committee take 

into account the needs of underserved 

and diverse communities served by the 

USDA, membership will include, to the 

extent practicable, individuals 

representing minorities, women, and 

persons with disabilities. USDA 

prohibits discrimination in all of its 

programs and activities on the basis of 

race, sex, color, national origin, gender, 

religion, age, sexual orientation, or 

disability. Additionally, discrimination 

on the basis of political beliefs and 

marital status or family status is also 

prohibited by statutes enforced by 

USDA (not all prohibited bases apply to 

all programs). Persons with disabilities 

who require alternate means for 

communication of program information 

(Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) 

should contact USDA’s Technology and 

Accessible Resources Give Employment 

Today Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice 

and TDD). USDA is an equal 

opportunity provider and employer. 

Dated: December 28, 2020. 

Cikena Reid, 

Committee Management Officer, USDA. 

[FR Doc. 2020–29077 Filed 1–6–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–16–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Economic Research Service 

Notice of Intent to Request New 

Information Collection 

AGENCY: Economic Research Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) implementing regulations, the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Economic Research Service (ERS) 

invites the general public and other 

Federal agencies to take this 

opportunity to comment on a proposed 

new information collection for a study 

of ‘‘Conservation Auction Behavior: 

Effects of Default Offers and Score 

Updating.’’ 

DATES: Written comments on this notice 

must be received on or before March 8, 

2021 to be assured of consideration. 

ADDRESSES: Address all comments 

concerning this notice to Steven 

Wallander, Rural and Resource 

Economics Division, Economic Research 

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

1400 Independence Ave. SW, Mail Stop 

1800, Washington DC 20250–0002. 

Submit electronic comments to 

steve.wallander@usda.gov . 

All written comments will be 

available for public inspection during 

regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 

p.m. (Eastern time), Monday through 

Friday). To arrange access to the 

comments, contact Steven Wallander at 

the email address listed above. 

All responses to this notice will be 

summarized and included in the request 

for Office of Management and Budget 

approval. All comments and replies will 

be a matter of public record. Comments 

are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 

collection of information is necessary 

for the proper performance of the 

functions of the agency, including 

whether the information shall have 

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 

agency’s estimate of the burden of the 

proposed collection of information, 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used; (c) 

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the 

burden of the collection of information 

on those who are to respond, including 

use of appropriate automated, 

electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

further information contact Steven 

Wallander at the mailing address listed 

above or by phone: (202) 694–5546. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 

Conservation Auction Behavior: Effects 

of Default Offers and Score Updating. 

OMB Number: To be assigned by 

OMB. 

Expiration Date: Three years from 

approval date. 

Type of Request: New information 

collection. 

Abstract: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 

L. 104–12) and OMB regulations at 5 

CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 

1995), this notice announces USDA 

Economic Research Services’ intention 

to request approval from the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for a 

new data collection effort. 

This data collection will use an online 

simulated auction experiment with 

former participants in the USDA 

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 

general signup and university students 

to (1) study the anchoring effect of using 

a high-scoring default offer in the CRP 

enrollment software rather than an 

active-choice default, and (2) study how 

the timing of information about final 

ranking score in the software influences 

responsive to baseline ranking scores. 

Outputs for the experiment will be used 

to inform potential updates to the CRP 

software and enrollment software as 

well as future lab experiments on 

general conservation auctions. 

USDA’s Conservation Reserve 

Program (CRP) enrolls environmentally 

sensitive cropland in long-term 

contracts. Enrolled landowners receive 

annual rental payments for establishing 

the approved conservation vegetative 

cover and not farming the land. Most 

land is enrolled through the CRP 

General Signup, a multi-unit, sealedbid, reverse auction. Offers are ranked 

on both quality and price. Participants 

can increase the probability that their 

offer is accepted by agreeing to a higher 

quality conservation cover practice or 

lowering their asking price (annual 

payment). By encouraging better 

practices and lower payments, the 

auction design improves the cost 

effectiveness of the CRP. 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES