[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 14, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24269-24270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11976]



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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 94 / Tuesday, May 14, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 24269]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of Request For Collection of Public Information With Use 
of a Survey

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's (RBS) 
intention to request clearance for a new information collection in 
order to render service to associations of producers of agricultural 
products and federations and subsidiaries thereof as authorized in the 
Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 15, 1996 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edgar L. Lewis, Agricultural 
Economist, RBS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ag Box 3252, 
Washington, DC 20250-3252, Telephone (202) 690-3407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Cooperative Coordination of Production and Harvesting 
Decisions.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) USDA, 
formerly the Agricultural Cooperative Service (ACS), conducts research 
on issues that are timely and important to cooperatives, including 
fruit and vegetable cooperatives. In order to carry out the Agency's 
mission, including research, RBS needs to collect information from the 
cooperative community.
    The authority to carry out RBS mission is defined in the 
Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926 (44 Stat. 802-1926), and other 
regulations listed below.
    Authority and Duties of Division (7 U.S.C. & 453)
    (a) The division shall render service to associations of producers 
of agricultural products, and federations and subsidiaries thereof, 
engaged in the cooperative marketing of agricultural products, 
including processing, warehousing, manufacturing, storage, the 
cooperative purchasing of farm supplies, credit, financing, insurance, 
and other cooperative activities.
    (b) The division is authorized:
    (1) To acquire, analyze and disseminate economic, statistical, and 
historical information regarding the progress, organization, and 
business methods of cooperative association in the United States and 
foreign countries.
    (2) To conduct studies of the economic, legal, financial, social, 
and other phases of cooperation, and publish the results thereof. Such 
studies shall include the analyses of the organization, operation, 
financial and merchandising problems of cooperative associations.
    (3) To make surveys and analyses if deemed advisable of the 
accounts and business practices of representative cooperative 
associations upon their request; to report to the association so 
surveyed the results thereof; and with the consent of the association 
so surveyed to publish summaries of the results of such surveys, 
together with similar facts, for the guidance of cooperative 
associations and for the purpose of assisting cooperative associations 
in developing methods of business and market analysis.
    Cooperatives account for approximately 20-25 percent of the total 
volume of fruit, vegetables, and specialty crops sold in the United 
States. A cooperative's ability to coordinate production practices and 
harvesting schedules from a central source has important implications 
for the operational efficiency and competitiveness in both fresh and 
processed produce markets. Structural changes in production and food 
marketing sectors have resulted in an increasingly competitive 
environment. The ability to regulate product flow to correspond to 
market conditions has evolved into an essential management tool. By 
definition or structure, many cooperatives are unable to access and 
respond to market information by adjusting their marketing activities. 
To compete and survive in this changing industry, fruit and vegetable 
cooperatives may benefit from more coordination of production and 
harvesting activities. This information collection is designed as input 
into a study that will provide a better understanding of cooperative 
coordination of production and harvesting decisions. The objectives of 
this research study are to determine the extent that fruit and 
vegetable cooperatives coordinate production and harvesting decisions, 
examine the effects these practices have on operating efficiency and 
competitiveness, and to identify conditions and situations where 
implementation of coordination practices will have their greatest 
economic impact.
    In order to carry out the Agency's mission of research as 
authorized in the Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926 (44 Stat. 802-
1926), RBS needs to collect information from the cooperative community. 
The data needed for this study is generally not available to the Agency 
unless provided by the cooperatives. This one-time information 
collection effort will be used for a research report designed to help 
prepare cooperatives to compete in a continually changing environment.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.0 hour per response.
    Respondents: Fruit and vegetable cooperatives.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 300.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 (one time survey).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 300 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from 
Director, Regulations and Paperwork Management Division, at (202) 720-
9725.

Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the function of 
the Agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and

[[Page 24270]]

clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on those who are to 
respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to 
Director, Regulations and Paperwork Management Division, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Ag Box 0743, Washington, 
D.C. 20250. All responses to this notice will be summarized and 
included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become 
a matter of public record.

    Dated: May 6, 1996.
Dayton J. Watkins,-------
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 96-11976 Filed 5-13-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-07-U