[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 93 (Monday, May 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 22018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11826]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census


1997 Census of Agriculture

ACTION: Proposed agency information collection activity; comment 
request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 12, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to: Joseph Reilly, Bureau of the Census, AGFS 
Division, Room 437, Iverson Mall, Washington, DC 20233. Phone: (301) 
763-8557.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    A census of agriculture is taken to obtain measures of agricultural 
activity and productivity for each county or county equivalent and 
state in the United States and the outlying areas. The census of 
agriculture is conducted on the same 5-year cycle as the other economic 
censuses. The 1997 Census of Agriculture covers all agricultural 
operations in each state, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the 
U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands which meet the census farm definition. The farm definition for 
the 1997 Census of Agriculture for the 50 states is any place that 
produced and sold, or normally would produce and sell, $1,000 or more 
of agricultural products during 1997. This is the identical definition 
used for the 1992 Census of Agriculture. The Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico farm definition has been changed from the 1992 definition, and 
will be the same as the definition used in the United States. The farm 
definition for Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands will stay at its 1992 level of $100 in 
sales.
    To minimize respondent burden, the Census Bureau limits the items 
asked on the report forms for all farms to just these basic subjects: 
land use and ownership, irrigated land, crop acreages and quantities 
harvested, livestock and poultry inventories and value of products 
sold, acres set aside under Federal acreage-reduction programs, payment 
for participation in Federal farm programs, the amount received from 
Commodity Credit Corporation loans, number of injuries and deaths, and 
operator characteristics. Additionally, 25 percent of the report forms 
include additional questions on number of hired farm workers, 
production expenses, fertilizer and chemicals, machinery and equipment, 
market value of land and buildings, and income from farm-related 
sources. The Census Bureau designs regionalized report forms that are 
tailored for various parts of the country and are specific to the crops 
grown in a farmer's particular area.
    The census of agriculture is authorized by law under Title 13, 
United States Code, sections 142(a) and 191. Individual farm operators 
are guaranteed by this same law that their individual information will 
be kept confidential. The Census Bureau uses the information only for 
statistical purposes and publishes data only as tabulated totals. The 
census of agriculture is the only comprehensive source of agricultural 
statistics at the county level. These agricultural statistics are used 
by Congress in developing and changing farm programs. Many national and 
state programs are designed or allocated on the basis of census data 
such as funds for extension services, research, and soil conservation 
projects. Private industry uses census statistics to provide a more 
effective production and distribution system for the agricultural 
community.

II. Method of Collection

    The 1997 Census of Agriculture for the United States and the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will be conducted primarily using mailout/
mailback procedures for data collection. For Guam, the Virgin Islands, 
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands direct enumeration 
methods will be used for data collection.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Not Available.
    Form Number: 97-A0101-97-A0111, 97-A0114, 97-A0201-97-A0216, 97-
0216(SP), 97-A1(G), 97-A1(VI), 97-A1(NM), and 97-A46.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Farms.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,590,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 22.5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,346,250.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $113.2 million over a 6-year cycle 
(1995-2000).

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated-collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: May 7, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-11826 Filed 5-10-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P