FACACLASSIC

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Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

USDA - 5187 - National Commission on Small Farms - Agency Authority

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	National Commission on Small Farms	Agency Name	Department of Agriculture
Fiscal Year	1999	Committee Number	5187
Original Establishment Date	7/11/1999	Committee Status	Terminated
Actual Termination Date	7/11/1999	Committee URL
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	Unlimited
Terminated This FY	Yes	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	DFO
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	7/9/1997	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Jennifer
Date Of Renewal Charter	7/9/1999	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date	7/11/1999	Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Yezak-Molen
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	Agency Decision	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	202-690-0648
Establishment Authority*	Agency Authority	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	202-690-2311
Specific Establishment Authority*	Agency Decision	Designated Federal Officer Email*	jennifer.yezak2@usda.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	7/11/1999
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte
Committee Type*	Ad hoc
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Terminate
Legislation to Terminate Required	No
Legislation Status
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The National Commission on Small Farms serves the Secretary of Agriculture by providing recommendations on how to ensure the continued viability of small farms and to improve USDA services to small farms. Members represent many types of farms from different regions of the country, land-grant universities, nonprofit organizations that work with small farms, credit and conservation interests, state government, and farmworkers. With this breadth of knowledge and experience, members are able to provide advice on issues and special needs related to small farms. The Commission sought further ideas and advice in 7 public hearings from farmers, organizations representing the interests of small farmers, agriculture academics and economists, and those individuals with an interest in small farms. The Commission will be providing a report to the Secretary of Agriculture early next fiscal year.
How is membership balanced?*	The National Commission on Small Farms is composed of 30 members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The Commission consisted of people who are farmers and ranchers, staff of nonprofit farm and farmworker advocacy organizations, Extension professionals, current and former public officials, agribusiness representatives, and philanthropic foundation program staff. Twelve members are farmers or ranchers, and among them, they produce beef cattle, wheat, soybeans, other grains, hogs, dairy cattle, vegetables, and organic fruit; and two of the farmers are young. Seven members represent minority and traditionally underserved farmers. Two members represent nonprofit foundations; five members represent land-grant university and extension programs; and the others represent farmworkers, State government, conservation interests, credit interests, and agribusiness.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Secretary of Agriculture appointed the Commission on July 16, 1997 and requested a report by September 30, 1997. With this deadline, the Commission organized quickly and had its first meeting July 28, 1997. They decided that public participation would be a critical element in developing recommendations. Hearings were conducted to receive regional perspectives and diverse recommendations. The Commission conducted a total of 7 public hearings from July 28 through September 15. At three of the public hearings, the Commission also conducted working sessions to develop recommendations.In its report, the Commission recommended that it would meet to receive updates from the USDA on implementation of the recommendations. Two meetings in Fiscal Year 1999 are planned.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	In the February 1997, USDA Civil Rights Action Team report, it was recommended that the Secretary of Agriculture appoint a diverse commission to develop a national strategy on small farms. The Civil Rights Team heard of many instances where small, beginning, minority, and women farmers were not being provided services from the USDA and that many farmers were struggling economically. The Commission was directed to develop a strategy that would ensure the continued viability of small farms and include specific measures the public, nonprofit and private sectors could take to enhance the economic livelihood of small farms into the next century.
Why close or partially close meetings?	N/A
Recommendation Remarks

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*		Action Reorganize Priorities*
Outcome Trust In Government		Action Reallocate Resources
Outcome Major Policy Changes		Action Issued New Regulations
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research		Action Proposed Legislation
Outcome Effective Grant Making		Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments
Outcome Improved Service Delivery		Action Other
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction		Action Comment
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements		Grants Review*
Outcome Other		Number Of Grants Reviewed
Outcome Comment		Number Of Grants Recommended
Cost Savings*		Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended
Cost Savings Comment		Grants Review Comment
Number Of Recommendations*		Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*
Number Of Recommendations Comment		Access Agency Website
% of Recs Fully Implemented*		Access Committee Website
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment		Access GSA FACA Website
% of Recs Partially Implemented*		Access Publications
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment		Access Other
Agency Feedback*		Access Comment
Agency Feedback Comment*		Narrative Description*

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*	$0.00	2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$10,000.00	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$10,000.00
4. Payments to Consultants*	$0.00	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$10,000.00	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$10,000.00
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$0.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$1,000.00	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$1,000.00
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$0.00	8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$0.00
10. Other Costs	$4,000.00	10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$4,000.00
11. Total Costs	$25,000.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$25,000.00
Date Cost Last Modified		Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*	0.10
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	0.10	Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

No interest areas selected for this committee.

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