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[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 98 (Thursday, May 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 27920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13471]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

National Sheep Industry Improvement Center; Strategic Plan

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) announces the 
availability of the 1998 Strategic Plan for the National Sheep Industry 
Improvement Center. Section 759 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement 
and Reform Act of 1996, known as the 1996 Farm Bill, requires the 
National Sheep Industry Improvement Center to submit a yearly strategic 
plan to the Secretary of Agriculture. That plan is now available to the 
public.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Plan should be directed to Jay B. 
Wilson, Executive Director, National Sheep Industry Improvement Center, 
Denver Federal Center, Building 20, Room A1311, P.O. Box 281028, 
Lakewood, CO 80228-1028. Phone (303)-236-2858. FAX: (303)-236-7683.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay B. Wilson at Phone (303)-236-2858 
or Dr. Thomas H. Stafford, Director, Cooperative Marketing Division, 
Cooperative Services, RBS, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Stop 3252, 
Washington, DC 20250-3252, telephone (202) 690-0368, (This is not a 
toll free number.) FAX 202-690-2723, or e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform Act of 1996, known as the 1996 Farm Bill, established a National 
Sheep Industry Improvement Center. The Center is to (1) promote 
strategic development activities and collaborative efforts by private 
and State entities to maximize the impact of Federal assistance to 
strengthen and enhance production and marketing of sheep or goat 
products in the United States; (2) optimize the use of available human 
capital and resources within the sheep or goat industries; (3) provide 
assistance to meet the needs of the sheep or goat industry for 
infrastructure development, business development, production, resource 
development, and market and environmental research; (4) advance 
activities that empower and build the capacity of the United States 
sheep or goat industry to design unique responses to special needs of 
the sheep or goat industries on both a regional and national basis; and 
(5) adopt flexible and innovative approaches to solving the long-term 
needs of the United States sheep or goat industry. The Center has a 
Revolving Fund established in the Treasury to carry out the purposes of 
the Center. The Act requires the Center to submit to the Secretary an 
annual strategic plan for the delivery of financial assistance provided 
by the Center.
    The strategic plan is required to identify (1) goals, methods, and 
a benchmark for measuring the success of carrying out the plan and how 
the plan relates to the national and regional goals of the Center; (2) 
the amount and sources of Federal and non-Federal funds that are 
available for carrying out the plan; (3) funding priorities; (4) 
selection criteria for funding; and (5) a method of distributing 
funding. In addition, the Plan summarizes the sheep and goat 
industries' needs and problems as determined from a series of public 
hearings.
    The Board of Directors has submitted this plan to the Secretary of 
Agriculture and wishes to make it available to the public.

    Dated: May 13, 1998.
Dayton J. Watkins,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 98-13471 Filed 5-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-U
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