[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 197 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54668-54669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27310]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Notice of Request for Approval for a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of Farm Service Agency (FSA) to request 
approval for the Crop Data Report Pilot Project. The purpose of this 
pilot project is to determine the feasibility of offering alternative 
methods of reporting crop and land use data. Producers will have the 
option of reporting by using the pilot option or by using the method 
currently in place nationwide.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before December 
14, 1998 to be assured consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Rebecca Davis, Production, 
Emergencies, and Compliance Division, USDA, FSA, STOP 0517, 1400 
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-0517, telephone 
number (202) 720-9882.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Crop Data Report Pilot Project.
    OMB Control Number: New submission.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: This pilot was developed in response to OMB requests to 
lessen crop data and land use reporting burden on producers. The Crop 
Data Report Pilot Project is comprised of four distinct options. These 
options are as follows:
    (a) Option 1: The postcard mail-in certification option. This 
option allows producers to elect whether to report crops using mail, 
fax, or traditional in-office reporting methods. A postcard will be 
mailed to every producer in the county. Using information from the 
postcard, the producer can elect to participate in the mail-in 
certification option. Information will be collected from each producer 
using a prepared form (FSA-578, Report of Acreage new print option). 
This new print option will include the previous years information for 
the producer to use as a comparison for the current year and will be 
implemented in the following counties: O'Brien County, Iowa; Chenango 
County, New York; Yolo County, California; Grant County, Washington; 
Johnston County, North Carolina; and Orangeburg, South Carolina.
    (b) Option 2: The lump sum report option. The purpose of Crop Data 
Report Option 2 is to determine whether FSA can maintain program 
integrity when producers report a minimum amount of crop and land data 
by mail. This option is also designed to test whether allowing 
producers to report a minimum amount of crop and land data by mail 
would ease reporting burden. A reporting package is mailed to all 
producers with cropland; including a new FSA-578L, Report of Acreage 
Supplemental and a cover letter. This new form, FSA-578L, requires the 
producer only to report crop, acres, owner, operator and shares, and 
planting date and is a drastic departure from FSA's historical 
collection of crop and land use data. While simplifying reporting and 
easing the burden on the producer, it would also in some cases require 
the collection of additional data at a later date. This option will be 
implemented in the following counties: Sherburne/Anoka/Hennepin 
Counties, Minnesota; Grant County, Wisconsin; Oxford County, Maine; 
Collin County, Texas; Seward County, Nebraska; and Pike/Bullock 
Counties, Alabama.
    (c) Option 3: The total package mail option. This option of 
reporting crop and land data was derived to parallel reporting methods 
utilized by Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). Information 
previously collected in the FSA-578, Report of Acreage, included 
information pertaining to FCIC such as crop code, actuarial data and 
``T-area'' which has been made obsolete. A new print option will allow 
the system to print a slight deviation of the current FSA-578, Report 
of Acreage, to include the obsolete information. The new print option 
will still create an FSA-578, Report of Acreage, incorporating the FCIC 
data and will also include the data from previous years for comparison 
to assist in completing the current years report. This option will be 
implemented in the following counties: Scott County, Indiana; Wyoming 
County, New York; Republic County, Kansas; Willacy County, Texas; 
Osceola/Brevard/Orange Counties, Florida; and Grant County, North 
Dakota.
    (d) Option 4: The mail-in aerial photocopy option. This option was 
developed to test the feasibility of collecting crop and land data from 
producers using aerial photos only. Producers will receive reporting 
packets that will contain copies of aerial photos of each tract 
operated by the producer and instructions for reporting crops. This 
option will test the ability of the county office staff to interpret 
the information from the aerial photographs and data load information 
into the automated FSA-578. This option will be implemented in the 
following counties: Branch County, Michigan; Schuylkill County, 
Pennsylvania; Cochise County, Arizona; Little River, Arkansas; Pointe 
Coupee Parish, Louisiana; and Converse County, Wyoming.
    FSA's approach to collecting this information for all options is to 
collect only the information needed to support program eligibility and 
compliance requirements.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for Option 1 of this 
pilot project

[[Page 54669]]

is estimated to average .02 hours per response. Public reporting burden 
for Option 2 of this pilot project is estimated to average .10 hours 
per response.
    Respondents: Individual producers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 35,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses Per Respondent: 4.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,550.
    Burden hours for Options 3 and 4 have already been incorporated 
into the original OMB clearance package for acreage reporting. Those 
hours will not be increased or decreased for the purpose of this pilot 
project.
    Proposed topics for comment include: (a) Whether the 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 burden including 
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collected; 
or (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of the information 
on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Comments should be sent to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, D.C. 20503, and to Rebecca Davis, Production, Emergencies, 
and Compliance Division, USDA, FSA, STOP 0517, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-0517, (202) 720-9882. All 
responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request 
for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on October 6, 1998.
Keith Kelly,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 98-27310 Filed 10-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P