The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages urban producers and others to attend the second public meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production on August 5. The Committee will discuss new urban conservation practices, focus areas and priorities for the Commission, and the new Farm Service Agency (FSA) urban county committees, among other topics.
“This Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production is giving USDA valuable insights, feedback and guidance on how USDA can better serve producers in urban areas,” said Brian Guse, Director of USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP). “Working with the Committee, USDA will develop strategies to address the needs of urban agricultural producers and promote innovative production, strengthen local food systems, and increase equity and access to healthy, local food.”
The Committee is part of USDA’s efforts to support urban agriculture, creating a network for feedback. Members include agricultural producers, and representatives from the areas of higher education or extension programs, non-profits, business and economic development, supply chains and financing. The inaugural meeting of the Committee was held in March 2022.
The topics being discussed during the meeting include the focus areas and priorities for the Committee, an update on USDA's Equity Commission priorities, a briefing on new urban conservation practices, and an update on FSA urban county committees.
The meeting is on August 5 from 1 to 3 p.m. Eastern. To attend, registration needs to be completed by August 4. The public can register to attend the Committee meeting at zoomgov. Written comments or questions must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern July 29 through the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
Special accommodations need to be made to Tammy Willis at (315) 456-9024 or UrbanAgricultureFederalAdvisoryCommittee@usda.gov.
USDA will post the final agenda 24 to 48 hours prior to the meeting on farmers.gov/urban. Additional information about the Committee or the upcoming meeting is available at the June 30 Federal Registernotice and the Committee’s webpage.