[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7619-7620]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3626]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Office of Outreach and Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice 
announces the intention of the Office of Outreach and Farm Service 
Agency to request an extension for and revision to a currently approved 
information collection for the Small Farmer Outreach Training and 
Technical Assistance Program and the Outreach for Socially 
Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program. The Office of Outreach will 
use the information collection to determine eligibility of each 
applicant and to ensure that program requirements are met.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before April 19, 
1999.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Geraldine Herring, 
Department of Agriculture, Office of Outreach, Room 4929-S, STOP 6201, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-6201; telephone 
(202) 720-1637 and FAX: (202) 720-4995.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Small Farmer Outreach, Training, and Technical Assistance
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0163
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 1998
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
Trade Act of 1990, (7 U.S.C. 2279) established the ``Small Farmer 
Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Program,'' and the 
``Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and 
Ranchers Program.'' This act provides the Office of Outreach with the 
authority to make grants and enter into contracts, and other agreements 
with entities to provide outreach, training, and technical assistance. 
The programs are to encourage and assist small, limited resource and 
economically/socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own and 
operate farms and ranches; and to increase their participation and 
accessibility to agricultural programs.
    Grants are awarded to community-based organizations that have 
demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education or other 
agriculturally related services to small, limited resource, 
economically/socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. Recipients 
must have documentary evidence of their past experiences in working 
with targeted participants during the 2 year period preceding their 
application for a grant or contract. To be identified as being a 
responsible grantee or contractor, an applicant must provide 
documentation of having adequate financial resources, the ability to 
comply with project completion dates, show that adequate financial 
management and accounting systems

[[Page 7620]]

are in place, and show a satisfactory record of past performance under 
Federal Government grants and contracts.
    Grants are also awarded to Land-Grant Colleges including Tuskegee 
Institute, Indian tribal community colleges and Alaska native 
cooperative colleges, Hispanic-serving post-secondary educational 
institutions, and other post-secondary educational institutions with 
demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education or other 
agriculturally related services to small, limited resource, 
economically/socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in their 
region.
    When a grant has been awarded, a cooperative agreement is executed. 
The potential grant period is 5 years. At the conclusion of each year, 
a decision is made by USDA program staff based on information submitted 
regarding project performance and management whether to extend the 
cooperative agreement for another year.
    The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, 
and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1999, provided $3 million for 
the continuation of the programs for fiscal year 1999.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 4.0606 hours per response.
    Respondents: Educational Institutions, Community-Based 
Organizations, State, Local or Tribal Governments and producers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 150
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,888 hours
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from Geraldine Herring at the above address.
    Comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical or other technological collection 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 (OMB), Washington, D.C. 20503 and to Samuel E. 
Thornton, Director, USDA, Office of Outreach, Room 542-A, STOP 6201, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-6201.
    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, D.C., on January 20, 1999.
Samuel E. Thornton,
Director, Office of Outreach.

James W. Schroeder,
Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agriultural Services.
[FR Doc. 99-3626 Filed 2-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-M