[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 13165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6941]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Intent To Request Approval of an Information Collection

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. No. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 
5 CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces 
the National Agricultural Statistics Service's (NASS) intention to 
request approval for a new information collection, the 1998 Census of 
Horticultural Specialties.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 22, 1998 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Rich Allen, Associate 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4117, 
South Building, Washington, D.C. 20250-2000, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 1998 Census of Horticultural Specialties.
    Type of Request: The 1998 Census of Horticultural Specialties, 
authorized by the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 (Pub. L. No. 105-
113), will include all operations in each State that produced and sold 
$10,000 or more of horticultural specialty crops during 1998. The 
horticulture census will provide data on the number of farms, 
production and sales by type of plant, area in production, selected 
production expenses, hired workers, and value of land and equipment. 
Census data are used by the growers, their representatives, the 
government, and many other groups of people concerned with the 
horticulture industry. The census will provide detailed data on the 
production of specialty horticultural crops for each State. Results 
from the census will be used to evaluate new programs, disburse Federal 
funds, analyze market trends, and measure performance across States. 
The horticulture census will provide the only source of dependable, 
comparable data by State. The National Agricultural Statistics Service 
will use the information collected only for statistical purposes and 
will publish the data only as tabulated totals.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 66 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farms.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 36,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 39,600 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from Larry Gambrell, the Agency OMB 
Clearance Officer, at (202) 720-5778.
    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, such as through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be 
sent to: Larry Gambrell, Agency OMB Clearance Officer, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4162, South Building, 
Washington, D.C. 20250-2000. 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, D.C., March 3, 1998.
Donald M. Bay,
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
[FR Doc. 98-6941 Filed 3-17-98; 8:45 am]
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