May 23, 2012—TOMORROW, Thursday, May 24, USDA will announce the appointment of members by Secretary Tom Vilsack to the Council for Native American Farming and Ranching, a committee created to advise him on ways to eliminate barriers to participation in USDA programs for Native American farmers and ranchers. The Council is being appointed as part of the Keepseagle settlement. USDA has scheduled a media conference call to discuss the announcement.

The announcement will be made on the Secretary’s behalf by Janie Simms Hipp, J.D., LL.M. (Chickasaw), Senior Advisor to the Secretary, Tribal Relations and by Farm Service Agency Administrator Bruce Nelson.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

5 p.m. EDT

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