Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, 54987-54988 [E8-22420]
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54987
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
Vol. 73, No. 186
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains notices to the public of the proposed
issuance of rules and regulations. The
purpose of these notices is to give interested
persons an opportunity to participate in the
rule making prior to the adoption of the final
rules.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service
7 CFR Chapter XXXIV
Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders
Regarding the Beginning Farmer and
Rancher Development Program
Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and
request for stakeholder input.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension
Service (CSREES) is implementing a
newly funded competitive grants
program called the Beginning Farmer
and Rancher Development Program. By
this notice, CSREES is designated to act
on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture
in soliciting public comments and
stakeholder input from persons who use
or conduct research, extension or
education, training, outreach and
technical assistance regarding the
implementing regulation to be
developed for this newly funded
program, as required under section 7405
of the Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 2002, as amended by
the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act
of 2008 (FCEA).
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Monday, October 27, 2008, from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m. All comments must be
received by close of business on Friday,
November 14, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in
rooms 1410A–D, Waterfront Centre
Building, Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service,
United States Department of
Agriculture, 800 9th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20024. Meeting
participants will need to provide photo
identification to be admitted to the
building. Please allow sufficient time to
go through security. You may submit
comments, identified by CSREES–2008–
0003, by any of the following methods:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:48 Sep 23, 2008
Jkt 214001
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: psmith@csrees.usda.gov.
Include CSREES–2008–0003 in the
subject line of the message.
Fax: 202–401–1782.
Mail: Paper, disk or CD–ROM
submissions should be submitted to
BFRDP; Competitive Programs (CP)
Unit, Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, STOP 2240,
1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–2240.
Hand Delivery/Courier: BFRDP,
Competitive Programs (CP) Unit,
Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Room 2457, Waterfront
Centre, 800 9th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20024.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name and
reference to CSREES–2008–0003. All
comments received will be posted to
https://www.regulations.gov, including
any personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Paulette Smith, (202) 401–1761 (phone),
(202) 401–1782 (fax), or
psmith@csrees.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Additional Meeting and Comment
Procedures
Because of the diversity of subjects,
and to aid participants in scheduling
their attendance, the following schedule
is anticipated for the October 27, 2008,
meeting:
9 a.m.–9:30 a.m.—Introduction to
Beginning Farmer and Rancher
Development Program (program
purposes and background
information).
9:30 a.m.–10 a.m.—Eligibility and
matching funds.
10 a.m.–10:30 a.m.—Partnerships.
10:30 a.m.–11 a.m.—Outcomes-based
reporting, communication of
findings and results beyond the
immediate target audience, and best
practices.
11 a.m.–11:30 a.m.—Educational teams.
11:30 a.m.–12 p.m.—Curriculum and
Training Clearinghouse; purpose &
reporting of materials.
12 p.m.–12:30 p.m.—Funding priorities.
12:30 p.m.–1 p.m.—Issues pertaining to
BFRDP funding priorities and
administration.
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Persons wishing to present oral
comments at the October 27, 2008,
meeting are requested to pre-register by
contacting Ms. Paulette Smith at (202)
401–1761, by fax at (202) 401–1782 or
by e-mail to psmith@csrees.usda.gov.
Participants may reserve one 5-minute
comment. More time may be available,
depending on the number of people
wishing to make a presentation and the
time needed for questions following
presentations. Reservations will be
confirmed on a first-come, first-served
basis. All other attendees may register at
the meeting. All comments must be
received by close of business Friday,
November 14, 2008, to be considered.
All comments and the official transcript
of the meeting, when they become
available, may be reviewed on the
CSREES Web page for six months.
Participants who require a sign language
interpreter or other special
accommodations should contact Ms.
Smith as directed above. Additional
forums will occur after the public
meeting to obtain public comments for
use in developing the proposed rule for
the new BFRDP program. These forums
will be announced through the CSREES
Web page: https://www.csrees.usda.gov/
business/reporting/stakeholder/
ec_stakeholder.html.
Background and Purpose
Section 7405 of the Farm Security and
Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L.
107–171) as amended in the FCEA (Pub.
L. 110–246) authorized the Secretary of
Agriculture to make competitive grants
to new and established local and
regional training, education, outreach,
and technical assistance initiatives that
address the needs of beginning farmers
and ranchers. The Secretary may award
a Beginning Farmer and Rancher
Development Program (BFRDP) grant to
a collaborative State, tribal, local or
regionally based network or partnership
of public or private entities, which may
include: A State cooperative extension
service; a Federal, State or tribal agency;
a community-based and
nongovernmental organization; a college
or university (including an institution
awarding an associate’s degree) or
foundation maintained by a college or
university; or any other appropriate
partner, as determined by the Secretary.
Grants shall be awarded to address
needs of beginning farmers and ranchers
in the following areas: Mentoring,
E:\FR\FM\24SEP1.SGM
24SEP1
54988
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 24, 2008 / Proposed Rules
apprenticeships, and internships;
resources and referrals; assisting
beginning farmers or ranchers in
acquiring land from retiring farmers and
ranchers; innovative farm and ranch
transfer strategies; entrepreneurship and
business training; model land leasing
contracts; financial management
training; whole farm planning;
conservation assistance; risk
management education; diversification
and marketing strategies; curriculum
development; understanding the impact
of concentration and globalization; basic
livestock and crop farming practices; the
acquisition and management of
agricultural credit; environmental
compliance; information processing;
and other similar subject areas of use to
beginning farmers or ranchers. The
authority to carry out this program has
been delegated to CSREES through the
Under Secretary for Research,
Education, and Economics.
CSREES is holding a public meeting
to obtain comments to use in developing
the proposed rule for the newly funded
BFRDP. The meeting will solicit
comments regarding the implementation
of BFRDP. The meeting is open to the
public. Written comments and
suggestions may be submitted to the
CSREES Docket Clerk at the address
above.
Summary of Beginning Farmer and
Rancher Development Program
For fiscal year (FY) 2009, $18 million
has been made available for the BFRDP.
Not less than 25 percent of funds used
to carry out the BFRDP for a fiscal year
shall be used to support programs and
services that address the needs of
limited resource beginning farmers or
ranchers; socially disadvantaged
beginning farmers or ranchers; and
farmworkers desiring to become farmers
or ranchers. All applicants are required
to provide funds or in-kind support
from non-Federal sources in an amount
that is at least equal to 25 percent of the
Federal funds requested. In making
BFRDP grants, priority will be given to
partnerships and collaborations that are
led by or include nongovernmental and
community-based organizations with
expertise in new agricultural producer
training and outreach. Geographical
diversity will be ensured to the
maximum extent practicable.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS
Implementation Plans
CSREES plans to consider stakeholder
input received from this public meeting
and subsequent public forums as well as
other written comments in developing
an implementing regulation for this
program. CSREES anticipates releasing a
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:48 Sep 23, 2008
Jkt 214001
Request for Applications (RFA) by midJanuary 2009.
Done at Washington, DC, this 19th day of
September, 2008.
Colien Hefferan,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service.
[FR Doc. E8–22420 Filed 9–23–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service
7 CFR Chapter XXXIV
Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders
Regarding Programs for the HispanicServing Agricultural Colleges and
Universities
Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and
request for stakeholder input.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension
Service (CSREES) is requesting
stakeholder input in developing
regulations for identifying and certifying
institutions as Hispanic-serving
Agricultural Colleges and Universities
(HSACUs), which comprise a new group
of cooperating educational institutions
established in section 7101 of the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
(FCEA) or Public Law 110–246. In
addition, CSREES is requesting
stakeholder input in developing
regulations for the five new programs
for HSACUs authorized under section
7129 of FCEA. By this notice, CSREES
is designated to act on behalf of the
Secretary of Agriculture in soliciting
public comment from interested parties
regarding the implementing regulations
to be developed for identifying HSACUs
and the new programs for HSACUs.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
Sunday, October 12, 2008, from 3 p.m.
to 6:30 p.m. All comments not
presented or submitted for the record at
the meeting must be received by close
of business Monday, October 27, 2008,
to be considered.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado
Convention Center at 650 15th Street
Denver, CO 80202. You may submit
comments, identified by CSREES–2008–
0004, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
E-mail: HSACU@csrees.usda.gov.
Include CSREES–2008–0004 in the
subject line of the message.
Fax: (202) 720–2030.
Mail: Paper, disk or CD–ROM
submissions should be submitted to:
John Miklozek; Multicultural Alliances,
Science and Education Resources
Development Unit; Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension
Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture;
Mail Stop 2251; 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–
2251.
Hand Delivery/Courier: HSACU;
Multicultural Alliances, Science and
Education Resources Development Unit;
Cooperative State Research, Education,
and Extension Service; U.S. Department
of Agriculture; Room 3253; Waterfront
Centre; 800 9th Street, SW.;
Washington, DC 20024.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name and
CSREES–2008–0004. All comments
received will be posted to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided.
Mr.
John Miklozek, (202) 720–1254 (phone),
(202) 720–2030 (fax), or
HSACU@csrees.usda.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Additional Meeting and Comment
Procedures
Persons wishing to present oral
comments at the October 12, 2008,
meeting are requested to pre-register by
contacting Mr. John Miklozek at (202)
720–1254, by fax at (202) 720–2030 or
by e-mail to HSACU@csrees.usda.gov.
Participants may reserve one 5-minute
comment period. More time may be
available, depending on the number of
people wishing to make a presentation
and the time needed for questions
following presentations. Reservations
will be confirmed on a first-come, firstserved basis. Written comments may
also be submitted for the record at the
meeting. All other attendees may
register at the meeting. All comments
not presented or submitted for the
record at the meeting must be received
by close of business Monday, October
27, 2008, to be considered. All
comments and the official transcript of
the meeting, when they become
available, may be reviewed on the
CSREES Web page for six months.
Participants who require a sign language
interpreter or other special
accommodations should contact Mr.
Miklozek as directed above. A Spanish
language interpreter will be present.
E:\FR\FM\24SEP1.SGM
24SEP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 24, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54987-54988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22420]
========================================================================
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 24, 2008 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 54987]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
7 CFR Chapter XXXIV
Solicitation of Input From Stakeholders Regarding the Beginning
Farmer and Rancher Development Program
AGENCY: Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for stakeholder input.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service (CSREES) is implementing a newly funded competitive grants
program called the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. By
this notice, CSREES is designated to act on behalf of the Secretary of
Agriculture in soliciting public comments and stakeholder input from
persons who use or conduct research, extension or education, training,
outreach and technical assistance regarding the implementing regulation
to be developed for this newly funded program, as required under
section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, as
amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA).
DATES: The meeting will be held on Monday, October 27, 2008, from 9
a.m. to 1 p.m. All comments must be received by close of business on
Friday, November 14, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in rooms 1410A-D, Waterfront Centre
Building, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service,
United States Department of Agriculture, 800 9th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20024. Meeting participants will need to provide photo
identification to be admitted to the building. Please allow sufficient
time to go through security. You may submit comments, identified by
CSREES-2008-0003, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: psmith@csrees.usda.gov. Include CSREES-2008-0003 in the
subject line of the message.
Fax: 202-401-1782.
Mail: Paper, disk or CD-ROM submissions should be submitted to
BFRDP; Competitive Programs (CP) Unit, Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP
2240, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-2240.
Hand Delivery/Courier: BFRDP, Competitive Programs (CP) Unit,
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Room 2457, Waterfront Centre, 800 9th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20024.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and reference to CSREES-2008-0003. All comments received will be posted
to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Paulette Smith, (202) 401-1761
(phone), (202) 401-1782 (fax), or psmith@csrees.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Additional Meeting and Comment Procedures
Because of the diversity of subjects, and to aid participants in
scheduling their attendance, the following schedule is anticipated for
the October 27, 2008, meeting:
9 a.m.-9:30 a.m.--Introduction to Beginning Farmer and Rancher
Development Program (program purposes and background information).
9:30 a.m.-10 a.m.--Eligibility and matching funds.
10 a.m.-10:30 a.m.--Partnerships.
10:30 a.m.-11 a.m.--Outcomes-based reporting, communication of findings
and results beyond the immediate target audience, and best practices.
11 a.m.-11:30 a.m.--Educational teams.
11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.--Curriculum and Training Clearinghouse; purpose &
reporting of materials.
12 p.m.-12:30 p.m.--Funding priorities.
12:30 p.m.-1 p.m.--Issues pertaining to BFRDP funding priorities and
administration.
Persons wishing to present oral comments at the October 27, 2008,
meeting are requested to pre-register by contacting Ms. Paulette Smith
at (202) 401-1761, by fax at (202) 401-1782 or by e-mail to
psmith@csrees.usda.gov. Participants may reserve one 5-minute comment.
More time may be available, depending on the number of people wishing
to make a presentation and the time needed for questions following
presentations. Reservations will be confirmed on a first-come, first-
served basis. All other attendees may register at the meeting. All
comments must be received by close of business Friday, November 14,
2008, to be considered. All comments and the official transcript of the
meeting, when they become available, may be reviewed on the CSREES Web
page for six months. Participants who require a sign language
interpreter or other special accommodations should contact Ms. Smith as
directed above. Additional forums will occur after the public meeting
to obtain public comments for use in developing the proposed rule for
the new BFRDP program. These forums will be announced through the
CSREES Web page: https://www.csrees.usda.gov/business/reporting/
stakeholder/ec_stakeholder.html.
Background and Purpose
Section 7405 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(Pub. L. 107-171) as amended in the FCEA (Pub. L. 110-246) authorized
the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants to new and
established local and regional training, education, outreach, and
technical assistance initiatives that address the needs of beginning
farmers and ranchers. The Secretary may award a Beginning Farmer and
Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) grant to a collaborative State,
tribal, local or regionally based network or partnership of public or
private entities, which may include: A State cooperative extension
service; a Federal, State or tribal agency; a community-based and
nongovernmental organization; a college or university (including an
institution awarding an associate's degree) or foundation maintained by
a college or university; or any other appropriate partner, as
determined by the Secretary. Grants shall be awarded to address needs
of beginning farmers and ranchers in the following areas: Mentoring,
[[Page 54988]]
apprenticeships, and internships; resources and referrals; assisting
beginning farmers or ranchers in acquiring land from retiring farmers
and ranchers; innovative farm and ranch transfer strategies;
entrepreneurship and business training; model land leasing contracts;
financial management training; whole farm planning; conservation
assistance; risk management education; diversification and marketing
strategies; curriculum development; understanding the impact of
concentration and globalization; basic livestock and crop farming
practices; the acquisition and management of agricultural credit;
environmental compliance; information processing; and other similar
subject areas of use to beginning farmers or ranchers. The authority to
carry out this program has been delegated to CSREES through the Under
Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.
CSREES is holding a public meeting to obtain comments to use in
developing the proposed rule for the newly funded BFRDP. The meeting
will solicit comments regarding the implementation of BFRDP. The
meeting is open to the public. Written comments and suggestions may be
submitted to the CSREES Docket Clerk at the address above.
Summary of Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
For fiscal year (FY) 2009, $18 million has been made available for
the BFRDP. Not less than 25 percent of funds used to carry out the
BFRDP for a fiscal year shall be used to support programs and services
that address the needs of limited resource beginning farmers or
ranchers; socially disadvantaged beginning farmers or ranchers; and
farmworkers desiring to become farmers or ranchers. All applicants are
required to provide funds or in-kind support from non-Federal sources
in an amount that is at least equal to 25 percent of the Federal funds
requested. In making BFRDP grants, priority will be given to
partnerships and collaborations that are led by or include
nongovernmental and community-based organizations with expertise in new
agricultural producer training and outreach. Geographical diversity
will be ensured to the maximum extent practicable.
Implementation Plans
CSREES plans to consider stakeholder input received from this
public meeting and subsequent public forums as well as other written
comments in developing an implementing regulation for this program.
CSREES anticipates releasing a Request for Applications (RFA) by mid-
January 2009.
Done at Washington, DC, this 19th day of September, 2008.
Colien Hefferan,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-22420 Filed 9-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-22-P
