[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13165-13166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6942]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Farm and 
Ranch Irrigation Survey.

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 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey.
    Type of Request: The 1998 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey, 
authorized by the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 (Pub. L. No. 105-
113), will include a probability sample of farms reporting irrigation 
in the 1997 Census of Agriculture. This irrigation survey will provide 
detailed data relating to on-farm irrigation practices including acres 
irrigated by category of land use, acres and yields of irrigated and 
non-irrigated

[[Page 13166]]

crops, quantity of water distribution systems, and number of irrigation 
wells and pumps. Also included will be 1998 irrigation expenditures for 
maintenance and repair of irrigation equipment and facilities; purchase 
of energy for on-farm pumping of irrigation water; investment in 
irrigation equipment, facilities, and land improvement; and cost of 
water received from off-farm water supplies. Census data are used by 
the farmers, their representatives, the government, and many other 
groups of people concerned with the irrigation industry. The survey 
will provide a comprehensive inventory of farm irrigation practices. 
Results from the survey will be used to evaluate new programs, disburse 
Federal funds, analyze market trends, and measure performance across 
States. The irrigation survey 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 45 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farms.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 18,750 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. 98-6942 Filed 3-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P