[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 10, 1996)] [Notices] [Page 47734] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-23018] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE [No. LS-96-008] Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) request for comments from the livestock and meat industry to improve or change the procedures for collecting information used to compile and generate new and expand existing livestock and meat reports to assist the trade in making production and marketing decisions. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 12, 1996. ADDRESSES: Jimmy A. Beard; Assistant to the Chief; Livestock and Grain Market News Branch, Livestock and Seed Division, AMS-USDA, Room 2623 South Building, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jimmy A. Beard, (202) 720-1050. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Livestock and Meat Market News. OMB Number: 0581-0154. Expiration Date of Approval: 11-30-96. Type of Request: Extension and Revision of a currently approved information collection. Abstract: Collection and dissemination of information for livestock, meat, and meat production facilities trading by providing a price base used by packers, wholesalers, and retailers to market products. The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621), section 203(g) directs and authorizes the collection and dissemination of marketing information including adequate outlook information on a market area basis, for the purpose of anticipating and meeting consumer requirements aiding in the maintenance of farm income and to bring about a balance between production and utilization. The livestock and market news reports are used by academia, but are primarily used by the livestock and meat trade, which includes packers, processors, brokers, retailers, and producers. The livestock and meat industry requested that the Department of Agriculture issue livestock and meat trade market reports for livestock, beef carcasses, boxed beef cuts, pork cuts, calf, lamb, and meat byproducts in order to assist them in making immediate production and marketing decisions and as a guide to the amount of product in the supply channel. Many government agencies use the reports to make their market outlook projections. Data from these reports is included in the information forwarded to the Secretary's Office as well as his staff to keep them appraised of the current market conditions and movement of livestock and meat in the United States. Economists at most major agricultural colleges and universities use the reports to make both short and long term market productions. The data is used extensively by consulting firms and private economists to aid them in determining available supplies and current pricing. The industry could not collect the information themselves as they would not want to divulge their information to competitors, and exchange of such information between competitors would violate antitrust laws. Consequently, the information must be collected, compiled, and disseminated by an impartial third party, in a manner which protects the confidentiality of the reporter. Also, since the Government is a large purchaser of meat, a system to monitor the collection and reporting of data is needed. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average .03 hours per response. Respondents: Livestock and meat industry, or other for profit businesses, individuals or households, farms, or Federal Government. Estimated Number of Respondents: 450. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 520. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 7,020 hours. Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Jimmy A. Beard, Livestock and Grain Market News Branch, at (202) 720-1050. Send comments regarding the accuracy of the burden estimate, ways to minimize the burden, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, or any other aspect of this collection of information, to: Jimmy A. Beard, Assistant to the Chief, Livestock and Grain Market News Branch, Livestock and Seed Division, AMS-USDA, Room 2623 South Building, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456. 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, and will be made available at the address above, during regular business hours. Dated: September 3, 1996. Lon Hatamiya, Administrator. [FR Doc. 96-23018 Filed 9-9-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-02-M