[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 179 (Friday, September 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 48457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23457]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 179 / Friday, September 13, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 48457]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. FV96-501-N]


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 fruit, vegetable and 
ornamental industry to improve or change the procedures for collecting 
information used to compile and generate new and expand existing fruit, 
vegetable and ornamental reports to assist the trade in making 
production and marketing decisions.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 12, 1996.
    Additional Information or Comments: Contact Terry C. Long, Chief; 
Fruit and Vegetable Market News Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, 
AMS-USDA, Room 2503 South Building, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 
20090-6456; Telephone: (202) 720-2745, Fax: (202) 720-0547.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    Title: Fruit and Vegetable Market News.
    OMB Number: 0581-0006.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 1996.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approve 
information collection.
    Abstract: Collection and dissemination of information for fruit, 
vegetable and ornamental production and to facilitate trading by 
providing a price base used by producers, 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 basic, 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 fruit and vegetable market news reports are used by academia, 
but are primarily used by the fruit, vegetable and ornamental trade, 
which includes packers, processors, brokers, retailers, and producers. 
The fruit and vegetable industry requested that the Department of 
Agricultural issue price and supply market reports for commodities of 
regional, national and international significance 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, 
as needed, to keep them appraised of the current market conditions and 
movement of fruit, vegetable, and ornamental commodities in the United 
States. Economists at most major agricultural colleges and universities 
use the reports to make both short and long term market projections. 
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 purchaser of fruits and vegetables, 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 .033 hours per response.
    Respondents: Fruit, Vegetable and ornamental industry, or other 
for-profit businesses, individuals or households, farms, or Federal 
Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 18,633.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondents: 200.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 122,978 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Terry C. 
Long, Chief Fruit and Vegetable Market News Branch, at (202) 720-2745.
    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: Terry C. Long, 
Chief, Fruit and Vegetable Market News Branch, Fruit and Vegetable 
Division, AMS-USDA, Room 2503 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 9, 1996.
Robert C. Keeney,
Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 96-23457 Filed 9-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-M