USDA SOLICITS ADVISORY BOARD NOMINATIONS
                                                               
                                             Release No.0237.97
                                                               
                                                               
                                   Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623
                                         laura.trivers@usda.gov
                                   Steve Teasley (202) 720-8319
                                         steve.teasley@usda.gov



USDA SOLICITS ADVISORY BOARD NOMINATIONS

     WASHINGTON, July 16, 1997-Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman announced
today that he is inviting nominations to fill 10 expiring terms on the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Research, Extension,
Education, and Economics Advisory Board.

     The terms expire in September.  Deadline for submitting names is
August 15.  A Federal Register notice soliciting nominations will be
published later this month, with no restrictions placed on who can nominate
a candidate.

     The 1996 Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform (FAIR) Act created
the advisory board to advise the secretary of agriculture and land-grant
colleges and universities on national agricultural research, education,
extension, and economics policies and priorities.

     After soliciting nominations and receiving several hundred for the
current board last summer, Glickman appointed the original 30 members in
September 1997 to one, two, and three year terms, each representing a
special interest, agriculture-related category.  Terms of the 10 members who
were appointed to one-year terms are expiring.

     Representation is sought for the following categories of vacancies:
national farm organizations, food animal commodity producers, national crop
commodity organizations, national human health associations, Hispanic-serving institutions, American colleges of veterinary medicine,
transportation of food and agricultural products (domestic and foreign),
food and fiber processors, international development/private sector
organizations, and national social science associations.  Incumbents are
eligible for re-nomination, however, all nominations will be reviewed.

     Nominations should be sent to the Office of Under Secretary for
Research, Education, and Economics; Room 217W, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250.

     Nomination questions or requests for nomination forms can be directed
to Dr. Mitch Geasler at (202) 720-3803.
                                
                                
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