[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 38 (Thursday, February 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9777-9778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4854]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed collection; comments request.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's (RBS)
intention to request to extend the clearance for an existing
information collection in order to render service to associations of
producers of agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products and
federations and subsidiaries thereof as authorized in the Cooperative
Marketing Act of 1926.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 27, 1998 to be
assured of consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tracey L. Kennedy, Agricultural
Economist, RBS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW., Stop 3252, Washington, DC. 20250-3252, Telephone (202) 690-
1428.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Annual Survey of Cooperative Involvement in International
Markets.
Type of Request: Information collection.
Abstract: The mission of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service
(RBS), formerly Agricultural Cooperative Service (ACS), is to assist
farmer-owned cooperatives in improving the economic well-being of their
farmer-members. This is accomplished through a comprehensive program of
research on structural, operational, and policy issues affecting
cooperatives; technical advisory assistance to individual cooperatives
and to groups of producers who wish to organize cooperatives; and
development of educational and informational material. The authority to
carry out RBS's mission is defined in the Cooperative Marketing Act of
1926 (44 Stat. 802-1926). 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 to:
(1) Acquire, analyze and disseminate economic, statistical, and
historical information regarding the progress, organization, and
business methods of cooperative associations in the United States and
foreign countries.
(2) 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 organizations.
(3) 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.
(4) Acquire from all available sources, information concerning crop
prospects,
[[Page 9778]]
supply, demand, current receipts, exports, imports, and prices of
agricultural products handled or marketed by cooperative associations,
and to employ qualified commodity marketing specialists to summarize
and analyze this information and disseminate the same among cooperative
associations and others.''
RBS also has a stated objective to ``assist U.S. farmer
cooperatives to expand their participation in international trade of
agricultural products and supplies and to review their progress.''
As trade agreements are implemented and domestic farm supports are
reduced, a global presence is increasingly important to producers,
their communities, and to job-creation and retention in agri- and food-
related industries. Measurement and monitoring of cooperatives' global
presence are stated objectives of RBS's International Trade Program. In
order to carry out the agency's mission and objectives, RBS needs to
collect information from the cooperative community. This information
collection is designed to provide time-series data that will provide a
better understanding of the opportunities and limitations of producer-
owned cooperatives in global markets. The data provide the basis for
research on trade-related issues affecting cooperatives, and background
for trade-related policy analysis.
Beginning in 1980, RBS's predecessor agency Agricultural
Cooperative Service (ACS) collected cooperative trade data at five year
intervals. Value of cooperative exports by commodity and destination
were measured, as well as information related to method of sale.
Values of imports by cooperatives, by commodity and country of
origin were collected in 1986 and 1991. However, data collected at
five-year intervals did not provide for meaningful analysis. Further,
previous collections were strictly limited to exports and imports,
neglecting other important international arrangements such as strategic
alliances and foreign direct investment. As a result, a more
comprehensive, annual information collection has been developed to
accomplish RBS objectives and paint a more accurate picture of
cooperative involvement in international markets. These data are
generally not available to RBS unless provided by the cooperatives.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average one (1) hour per response.
Respondents: Cooperatives involved in international activities.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 170.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: one per year.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 170 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Jean
Mosley, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 690-1587.
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 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 use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Jean
Mosley, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Rural Development, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop
0743, Washington, DC 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 a public record.
Dated: February 18, 1998.
Dayton J. Watkins,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 98-4854 Filed 2-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P