[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 247 (Monday, December 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 67527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32452]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 247 / Monday, December 23, 1996 / 
Notices  

[[Page 67527]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Economic Research Service


Notice of Extension of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces an extension, by the Economic Research Service (ERS), 
of a currently approved information collection in support of the annual 
ERS report on agricultural real estate taxes.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before February 
26, 1997 to be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Fred Hoff, Associate 
Director, Information Services Division, Economic Research Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1301 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20005-4788, (202) 219-0511.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Agricultural Real Estate Taxes.
    OMB Number: 0536-0002.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 1997.
    Type of Request: Extension of currently approved annual information 
collection.
    Abstract: Information on agricultural real estate taxes levied has 
been collected annually by the United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) since before 1938, when the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 
officially directed that USDA collect such information. The information 
is collected annually via a mail questionnaire. The 1997 questionnaire 
is scheduled to be mailed in July. This information is used to 
calculate parity price indexes; estimate the changes in taxes; compare 
property taxes paid by farmers and ranchers among the States; and study 
farm and ranch costs, prices, and income. It is also the basis for the 
USDA's annual farm and ranch real estate tax series, which summarize 
agricultural real estate taxes in terms of total taxes, taxes per acre, 
and taxes per $100 of market value for each State. All requested 
information is collected annually from tax assessors on a simple one-
page questionnaire enclosed with a postage-paid return envelope and a 
summary of the previous years results.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 50 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Tax assessors in each of approximately 4,200 
jurisdictions with agricultural land, usually counties.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,500.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,083 hours.
     Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Kenneth 
Krupa, Natural Resources and Environment Division, ERS, (202) 219-0853.

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 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 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: Fred 
Hoff, Associate Director, Information Services Division, Rm 224C, 
Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1301 New 
York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005-4788, (202) 219-0511.
    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.

    Signed at Washington, DC, December 16, 1996.
Susan Offutt,
Administrator, Economic Research Service.
[FR Doc. 96-32452 Filed 12-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-18-M