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.

The Advisory Committee was established by the Secretary of Agriculture on November 25, 1998. 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 an needs for data of major suppliers and users of agriculture statistics.

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

The Committee, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, shall consist of 25 members representing a broad range of disciplines and interests, including, but not limited to, 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. Members can serve up to 3 terms for a total of 6 consecutive years. The Chairperson of the Committee shall be elected my 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.

Persons nominated for the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics will be required to complete and submit an Advisory Committee Membership Background Information questionnaire.

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

DATES:

Nominations must be received by September 7, 2000 to be assured of consideration.

Nominations, Additional Information, or Comments

Nominations should include the following information: name, title, address, telephone number, and organization, and should be e-mailed to hq_aa@nass.usda.gov, faxed to (202) 720-9013, OR telephone to Rich Allen, Associate Administrator, NASS, at (202) 720-4333. Each person nominated is required to complete an Advisory Committee Membership Information questionnaire. This form may be requested by telephone, fax, or e-mail using the information above. Forms will also be available on the Internet through the “Agency Information,” “Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics” options of the NASS Home Page at http://www.usda.gov/nass. Completed questionnaires may be faxed to the number above, mailed, or completed and e-mailed directly from the Internet site.

All mailed correspondence should be sent to Rich Allen, Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4117 South Building, Washington, D.C. 20250-2000.

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