Notice of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board Northeast Regional Listening Session

The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board, which represents 30 constituent categories, as specified in section 802 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-127), will send representatives of its membership (6 members, the Executive Director, a Representative from the Research, Education, and Economics Mission area, and a USDA administrative support person) to the Joint Northeast Region Sections Conference to hold a Northeast Regional Listening Session, 8:00 a.m. until noon on July 12, 1999. The Northeast Regional Listening Session will engage northeast regional stakeholders (small farmers, producers/ranchers, academia including 1890 and 1994 institutions, the private sector, and other stakeholder groups) in panel sessions to present statements to Advisory Board members on agricultural research and education priorities and other issues of significant concern to the Northeast Region. Findings of this Listening Session will be presented to the full Advisory Board for consideration in its ongoing effort to advise USDA on future agricultural research and education priorities. Time will be allowed at the end of Listening Session panels for open discussion and audience participation.

Dates: Northeast Regional Listening Session, July 12, 1999, 8:00 a.m. until noon. Place: Sheraton Harborside Hotel, Portsmouth, NH. Type of Meeting: Open to the public. Comments: The public may file written comments before or within 2 weeks after the meeting with the contact person. All statements will become a part of the official records of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board and will be kept on file for public review in the Office of the Advisory Board; Research, Education, and Economics; U.S. Department of Agriculture; Washington, D.C. 20250-2255.