[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42235-42236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20724]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


National Commission on Small Farms; Meeting

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. Request for comments and 
recommendations.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture by Departmental Regulation No. 
1043-43 dated July 9, 1997, established the National Commission on 
Small Farms (Commission) and further identified NRCS to provide support 
to the Commission. The purpose of the Commission is to gather and 
analyze information regarding small farms and ranches and recommend to 
the Secretary of Agriculture a national policy and strategy to ensure 
their continued viability. This notice seeks comments on issues that 
the Commission should address and recommendations that the Commission 
could consider as part of its report. The second public meeting of the 
Commission will be August 21-22, 1997.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations must be received on or 
before September 22, 1997. These comments will be summarized and 
presented to the Commission for their consideration.

PLACE, DATE AND TIME OF MEETING: The Commission's second meeting will 
be at the Best Western Ramkota Inn, 2400 North Louise, Sioux Falls, 
South Dakota. The Commission will meet from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on 
August 21 to conduct an organizational business meeting. This meeting 
is open to the public; however, the committee does not plan to hear 
public testimony at this session. The Commission will meet from 8:00 
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on August 22 . From 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. the 
Commission will continue to conduct an organizational business meeting. 
Starting at 10:15 a.m., the Commission will hear public testimony. We 
are seeking testimony from various sources to arrive at conclusions and 
recommendations that will ensure the continued viability of small 
farms. The Commission requests that testimony include ideas and 
recommendations based on the following questions. Concerns or problems 
of individual farms that relate to specific USDA programs should be 
addressed only in the context of a recommendation for the Commission to 
consider.
    The questions are:
    1. How are current USDA programs helping or hurting the viability 
of small farms?
    2. What are the needs of small farms in terms of financing, 
research, extension, marketing and risk management and other areas? 
What recommendations would you make about these needs that could be 
part of a long-range strategy to ensure the continued viability of 
small farms?
    3. Are there innovative non-governmental or state efforts to assist 
beginning and smaller independent farms that might be replicated or 
supplemented at the Federal level?
    4. What changes in USDA policy or practices are needed to make USDA 
programs in the areas of credit, research, extension, marketing, risk 
management and other areas more effective in enabling small farms to 
survive and thrive?
    5. What new programs could provide effective and affordable support 
for small farmers as commodity programs are phased out?
    6. What can be done to assist beginning farmers and farm workers to 
become farmer owners?
    7. What role should the Federal government play to ensure a 
diversified, decentralized and competitive farm structure?
    8. What do small farms contribute to your community and your state?
    9. What other generic issues pertaining to small farms should the 
Commission consider?
    Interested parties wishing to testify must contact the office of 
the National Commission on Small Farms by August 15, 1997 in order to 
be placed on a list of witnesses. Oral presentations will be limited to 
5 minutes. Those wishing to testify, but unable to notify the 
Commission office by August 15, will be able to sign up as a presenter 
August 22. Sign up will begin at 12:30 p.m. and end at 2:00 p.m. These 
presenters will testify on a first come, first served basis and 
comments will be limited based on the time available and the number of 
presenters. Written statements will be accepted at the meeting or may 
be mailed or faxed to the Commission office by September 12, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments and statements should be sent to National 
Commission on Small Farms, U.S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 
2890, Room 5237, South Building, Washington, D.C. 20013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Yezak Molen, Director, 
National Commission on Small Farms, at the address above or at (202) 
690-0648 or

[[Page 42236]]

(202) 690-0673. The fax number is (202) 720-0596.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Commission is to gather 
and evaluate background information, studies, and data pertinent to 
small farms and ranches, including limited-resource farmers. On the 
basis of the review, the Commission shall analyze all relevant issues 
and make findings, develop strategies, and make recommendations for 
consideration by the Secretary of Agriculture toward a national 
strategy on small farms. The national strategy shall include, but not 
be limited to: changes in existing policies, programs, regulations, 
training, and program delivery and outreach systems; approaches that 
assist beginning farmers and involve the private sectors and 
government, including assurances that the needs of minorities, women, 
and persons with disabilities are addressed; areas where new 
partnerships and collaborations are needed; and other approaches that 
it would deem advisable or which the Secretary of Agriculture or the 
Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service may request the 
Commission to consider.
    The Secretary of Agriculture has determined that the work of the 
Commission is in the public interest and within the duties and 
responsibilities of USDA. Establishment of the Commission also 
implements a recommendation of the USDA Civil Rights Action Report to 
appoint a diverse commission to develop a national policy on small 
farms.

    Dated: August 1, 1997.
Pearlie S. Reed,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-20724 Filed 8-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-16-P