Request for Public Comments To Be Used in Developing USDA Recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill, 35221-35222 [05-11787]
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35221
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 70, No. 116
Friday, June 17, 2005
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.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
Request for Public Comments To Be
Used in Developing USDA
Recommendations for the 2007 Farm
Bill
Office of the Secretary, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meetings and request
for comments.
AGENCY:
This notice announces a
series of public forums that senior
officials of the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) will hold to
obtain public input for the development
of the 2007 Farm Bill. The 2002 Farm
Bill, officially entitled the Farm Security
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (the
2002 Act; Publ. L. 107–171), authorizes
many of the programs operated by
USDA such as the farm price and
income support programs and expires
with the 2007 crop year. Many other key
programs specified in the 2002 Act
expire at the end of fiscal year 2007.
New legislation will need to be enacted
prior to the expiration of the 2002 Act.
USDA intends to develop
recommendations for the new farm bill
and believes that public input is
essential to the process by which these
recommendations will be developed.
This process requires an assessment of
the performance of current programs
operated under the 2002 Act as well as
of possible alternative programs for the
next farm bill.
The public forums will be held at
various locations in the United States
during 2005. The dates, locations, and
times of the forums will be announced
by USDA press release (available at
https://www.usda.gov). The public will
be invited to attend the forums and to
present oral comments.
The primary topics addressed at the
forums will reflect various concerns
affecting rural America such as
commodity, conservation, and rural
SUMMARY:
VerDate jul<14>2003
17:59 Jun 16, 2005
Jkt 205001
economic development issues.
However, some forums will be
dedicated to other important programs
authorized by the farm bill such as food
assistance, research, and education
programs. Topics for these discussions
will be announced via USDA press
release.
In addition, this notice provides the
public the opportunity to comment in
writing on key issues that USDA expects
to address in the development of its
recommendations. USDA will review
the public comments received,
including any analyses, reports, studies,
and other material submitted with the
comments, that address the questions
specified below.
Comments must be received by
December 30, 2005.
DATES:
We invite interested
persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments will be accepted at
public forums and may also be
submitted electronically (preferred) or
by postal mail. Comments may be
submitted electronically via the Internet
at the USDA home page (https://
www.usda.gov) by selected ‘‘Farm Bill
Forums.’’ Comments may also be
submitted by any of the following
methods:
• E-mail: Send comments to:
FarmBill@usda.gov
• Mail: Send comments to: Secretary
of Agriculture Mike Johanns, Farm Bill,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–3355.
• Hand delivery or courier: Deliver
comments to Room 116A at the above
address.
All comments, including names and
addresses, provided by respondents are
a matter of public record. Comments
may be inspected at the Department of
Agriculture. To arrange for inspection,
please contact the Office of the
Executive Secretariat, Room 116A,
Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–3355.
ADDRESSES:
By
mail: USDA/OES, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–
3355. By telephone: USDA’s Office of
Communications at (202) 720–9002. By
e-mail: FarmBill@usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Key Issues for Comment
USDA is seeking public comments on
the following farm policy
considerations:
1. The competitiveness of U.S.
agriculture in global and domestic
markets.
As bilateral, regional, and multilateral
trade negotiations continue to result in
reduced barriers to international trade,
exports and imports of agricultural
products are expected to become
increasingly important factors in U.S.
and global agriculture. Obtaining evergreater access to growing foreign
markets and being increasingly
competitive in these and in domestic
markets is essential for farm economic
growth. One key factor in our ability to
be competitive depends on the types of
products demanded around the world in
the next 10 to 20 years and our ability
to produce products that meet this
world demand.
How should farm policy be designed
to maximize U.S. competitiveness and
our country’s ability to compete
effectively in global markets?
2. The challenges facing new farmers
and ranchers as they enter agriculture.
Some observers note that while farm
policy has served agriculture and the
country well in the past there are
‘‘unintended consequences’’ that should
be addressed, such as the capitalization
of program benefits into land prices.
These higher land prices are cited as a
barrier to entry into agriculture for new
farmers; a factor in reduced profit for
existing farmers; and a cause of
weakened competitive position on the
part of U.S. farmers compared with
farmers in countries with lower-priced
land.
How should farm policy address any
unintended consequences and ensure
that such consequences do not
discourage new farmers and the next
generation of farmers from entering
production agriculture?
3. The appropriateness and
effectiveness of the distribution of farm
program benefits.
A longstanding goal of farm policy
has been to enhance and stabilize farm
prices and incomes. Current farm
programs, including crop insurance,
distribute assistance based on past and
current production levels. Some argue
that the current farm support system
encourages increases in farm size and
results in the disproportionate
E:\FR\FM\17JNN1.SGM
17JNN1
35222
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 116 / Friday, June 17, 2005 / Notices
distribution of program benefits to large
farms. It has also been suggested that
program incentives lead to increased
production and lower market prices.
How should farm policy be designed
to effectively and fairly distribute
assistance to producers?
4. The achievement of conservation
and environmental goals.
While producing food and fiber are
essential functions, agriculture also
plays a major role in natural resource
stewardship. Some have suggested that
future farm policy might be anchored
around the provision of tangible benefits
such as cleaner water and air. Such an
approach may be consistent with future
World Trade Organization obligations
on domestic support to agriculture,
while also expanding farm programs to
extend more broadly across agriculture,
including private forest lands.
How can farm policy best achieve
conservation and environmental goals?
5. The enhancement of rural
economic growth.
Farming and rural America once were
almost synonomous. Over the years, the
demographic and economic
characteristics of rural areas have
changed, as has farming’s role in the
rural economy. This raises the issue of
whether more Government attention
should be focused on investing in the
infrastructure in rural America (for
example, investing in new
technologies).
How can Federal rural and farm
programs provide effective assistance in
rural areas?
6. Opportunities to expand
agricultural products, markets, and
research.
Changes in farm and market structure
over past decades have led to
suggestions that farm policy could be
more flexible by enabling greater
support for a broader range of activities
helpful to agriculture market expansion.
Examples are: Attention to product
quality and new attributes; organic and
specialty crops; value-added products,
including renewable energy and
bioproducts and new uses for farm
products generally; expanded basic and
applied research; domestic and foreign
market development; and similar
activities.
How should these agricultural
product, marketing, and research-related
issues be addressed in the next farm
bill?
This notice is being issued to obtain
public comment regarding the next farm
bill. There are no regulatory findings
associated with this notice.
VerDate jul<14>2003
17:59 Jun 16, 2005
Jkt 205001
Signed in Washington, DC, on June 8,
2005.
Mike Johanns,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 05–11787 Filed 6–16–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–01–M
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List; Additions and
Deletions
Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Additions to and deletions from
Procurement List.
AGENCY:
This action adds to the
Procurement List a product and services
to be furnished by nonprofit agencies
employing persons who are blind or
have other severe disabilities, and
deletes from the Procurement List
products previously furnished by such
agencies.
DATES: Effective Date: July 17, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase
From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800,
1421 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259.
SUMMARY:
FOR FUTHER INFORMATION OR TO SUBMIT
COMMENTS CONTACT: Sheryl D. Kennerly,
Telephone: (703) 603–7740, Fax: (703)
603–0655, or e-mail
SKennerly@jwod.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Additions
On April 1 and April 22, 2005, the
Committee for Purchase From People
Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
published notices (70 FR 16797 and
20859) of proposed additions to the
Procurement List.
After consideration of the material
presented to it concerning capability of
qualified nonprofit agencies to provide
the product and services and impact of
the additions on the current or most
recent contractors, the Committee has
determined that the product and
services listed below are suitable for
procurement by the Federal Government
under 41 U.S.C. 46–48c and 41 CFR 51–
2.4.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
I certify that the following action will
not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
The major factors considered for this
certification were:
1. The action will not result in any
additional reporting, recordkeeping or
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
other compliance requirements for small
entities other than the small
organizations that will furnish the
product and services to the Government.
2. The action will result in
authorizing small entities to furnish the
product and services to the Government.
3. There are no known regulatory
alternatives which would accomplish
the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in
connection with the product and
services proposed for addition to the
Procurement List.
End of Certification
Accordingly, the following product
and services are added to the
Procurement List:
Product
Bottle, Oil Sample.
NSN: 8125–01–193–3440—Bottle, Oil
Sample.
NPA: East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind,
Tyler, TX.
Contracting Activity: Defense Supply Center
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.
Services
Service Type/Location: Custodial Services,
Postwide, Fort Knox, KY.
NPA: Lakeview Center, Inc., Pensacola, FL.
Contracting Activity: Directorate of
Contracting, Fort Knox, KY.
Service Type/Location: Custodial Services,
West Point Elementary School, West
Point Academy, West Point, NY.
NPA: Occupations, Inc., Middletown, NY.
Contracting Activity: Directorate of
Contracting, West Point, NY.
Service Type/Location: Food Service
Attendant, U.S. Coast Guard Marine
Safety Office/Group Portland, 6767
North Basin Avenue, Portland, OR.
NPA: DePaul Industries, Portland, OR.
Contracting Activity: U.S. Coast GuardAlameda, Alameda, CA.
Deletions
On April 22, 2005, the Committee for
Purchase From People Who are Blind or
Severely Disabled published notice (70
FR 20858) of proposed deletions to the
Procurement List.
After consideration of the relevant
matter presented, the Committee has
determined that the products listed
below are no longer suitable for
procurement by the Federal Government
under 41 U.S.C. 46–48c and 41 CFR 51–
2.4.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
I certify that the following action will
not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
The major factors considered for this
certification were:
1. The action may result in additional
reporting, recordkeeping or other
E:\FR\FM\17JNN1.SGM
17JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 116 (Friday, June 17, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35221-35222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-11787]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 116 / Friday, June 17, 2005 /
Notices
[[Page 35221]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
Request for Public Comments To Be Used in Developing USDA
Recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meetings and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces a series of public forums that senior
officials of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will
hold to obtain public input for the development of the 2007 Farm Bill.
The 2002 Farm Bill, officially entitled the Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 2002 (the 2002 Act; Publ. L. 107-171), authorizes
many of the programs operated by USDA such as the farm price and income
support programs and expires with the 2007 crop year. Many other key
programs specified in the 2002 Act expire at the end of fiscal year
2007. New legislation will need to be enacted prior to the expiration
of the 2002 Act.
USDA intends to develop recommendations for the new farm bill and
believes that public input is essential to the process by which these
recommendations will be developed. This process requires an assessment
of the performance of current programs operated under the 2002 Act as
well as of possible alternative programs for the next farm bill.
The public forums will be held at various locations in the United
States during 2005. The dates, locations, and times of the forums will
be announced by USDA press release (available at https://www.usda.gov).
The public will be invited to attend the forums and to present oral
comments.
The primary topics addressed at the forums will reflect various
concerns affecting rural America such as commodity, conservation, and
rural economic development issues. However, some forums will be
dedicated to other important programs authorized by the farm bill such
as food assistance, research, and education programs. Topics for these
discussions will be announced via USDA press release.
In addition, this notice provides the public the opportunity to
comment in writing on key issues that USDA expects to address in the
development of its recommendations. USDA will review the public
comments received, including any analyses, reports, studies, and other
material submitted with the comments, that address the questions
specified below.
DATES: Comments must be received by December 30, 2005.
ADDRESSES: We invite interested persons to submit comments on this
notice. Comments will be accepted at public forums and may also be
submitted electronically (preferred) or by postal mail. Comments may be
submitted electronically via the Internet at the USDA home page (http:/
/www.usda.gov) by selected ``Farm Bill Forums.'' Comments may also be
submitted by any of the following methods:
E-mail: Send comments to: FarmBill@usda.gov
Mail: Send comments to: Secretary of Agriculture Mike
Johanns, Farm Bill, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20250-3355.
Hand delivery or courier: Deliver comments to Room 116A at
the above address.
All comments, including names and addresses, provided by
respondents are a matter of public record. Comments may be inspected at
the Department of Agriculture. To arrange for inspection, please
contact the Office of the Executive Secretariat, Room 116A, Jamie L.
Whitten Federal Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20250-3355.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By mail: USDA/OES, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3355. By telephone: USDA's Office of
Communications at (202) 720-9002. By e-mail: FarmBill@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Key Issues for Comment
USDA is seeking public comments on the following farm policy
considerations:
1. The competitiveness of U.S. agriculture in global and domestic
markets.
As bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade negotiations
continue to result in reduced barriers to international trade, exports
and imports of agricultural products are expected to become
increasingly important factors in U.S. and global agriculture.
Obtaining ever-greater access to growing foreign markets and being
increasingly competitive in these and in domestic markets is essential
for farm economic growth. One key factor in our ability to be
competitive depends on the types of products demanded around the world
in the next 10 to 20 years and our ability to produce products that
meet this world demand.
How should farm policy be designed to maximize U.S. competitiveness
and our country's ability to compete effectively in global markets?
2. The challenges facing new farmers and ranchers as they enter
agriculture.
Some observers note that while farm policy has served agriculture
and the country well in the past there are ``unintended consequences''
that should be addressed, such as the capitalization of program
benefits into land prices. These higher land prices are cited as a
barrier to entry into agriculture for new farmers; a factor in reduced
profit for existing farmers; and a cause of weakened competitive
position on the part of U.S. farmers compared with farmers in countries
with lower-priced land.
How should farm policy address any unintended consequences and
ensure that such consequences do not discourage new farmers and the
next generation of farmers from entering production agriculture?
3. The appropriateness and effectiveness of the distribution of
farm program benefits.
A longstanding goal of farm policy has been to enhance and
stabilize farm prices and incomes. Current farm programs, including
crop insurance, distribute assistance based on past and current
production levels. Some argue that the current farm support system
encourages increases in farm size and results in the disproportionate
[[Page 35222]]
distribution of program benefits to large farms. It has also been
suggested that program incentives lead to increased production and
lower market prices.
How should farm policy be designed to effectively and fairly
distribute assistance to producers?
4. The achievement of conservation and environmental goals.
While producing food and fiber are essential functions, agriculture
also plays a major role in natural resource stewardship. Some have
suggested that future farm policy might be anchored around the
provision of tangible benefits such as cleaner water and air. Such an
approach may be consistent with future World Trade Organization
obligations on domestic support to agriculture, while also expanding
farm programs to extend more broadly across agriculture, including
private forest lands.
How can farm policy best achieve conservation and environmental
goals?
5. The enhancement of rural economic growth.
Farming and rural America once were almost synonomous. Over the
years, the demographic and economic characteristics of rural areas have
changed, as has farming's role in the rural economy. This raises the
issue of whether more Government attention should be focused on
investing in the infrastructure in rural America (for example,
investing in new technologies).
How can Federal rural and farm programs provide effective
assistance in rural areas?
6. Opportunities to expand agricultural products, markets, and
research.
Changes in farm and market structure over past decades have led to
suggestions that farm policy could be more flexible by enabling greater
support for a broader range of activities helpful to agriculture market
expansion. Examples are: Attention to product quality and new
attributes; organic and specialty crops; value-added products,
including renewable energy and bioproducts and new uses for farm
products generally; expanded basic and applied research; domestic and
foreign market development; and similar activities.
How should these agricultural product, marketing, and research-
related issues be addressed in the next farm bill?
This notice is being issued to obtain public comment regarding the
next farm bill. There are no regulatory findings associated with this
notice.
Signed in Washington, DC, on June 8, 2005.
Mike Johanns,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 05-11787 Filed 6-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M
