[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25474-25475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11979]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of Request for Approval of New Information With Use of a 
Survey

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments requested.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) has 
received approval for a new 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 July 12, 1999 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie A. Hogeland, Agricultural 
Economist, RBS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Stop 3253, Washington, DC. 20250-3253, Telephone (202) 690-
0409.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Local Cooperatives' Role in the Emerging Grain and Feed 
Industry.
    OMB Control Number: 0570-0032.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1999.
    Type of Request: New 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 surveyed the results 
thereof; and, with the consent of the association 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, 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 monitor the structure, conduct, 
and performance of the grains and oilseeds marketing systems and the 
role and effectiveness of cooperatives within that system; analyze the 
impact of government programs and policies that affect grains and 
oilseeds cooperatives; and provide leadership and guidance to grain and 
oilseed cooperatives based on the results of research and technical 
assistance studies and on program experience.
    The elimination of government storage programs during the mid-1990s 
removed what, for many years, was the financial backbone of most 
cooperative

[[Page 25475]]

grain elevators. At the same time, the market began a crucial 
transformation to more fully account for differences in the value of 
grain in its end use.
    Export markets, the genesis of this transformation, typically blend 
grain lots to achieve a minimum average No. 2 quality. They usually do 
not pay premiums for No. 1 grain, and they discount from the No. 2 
standard. The industry argues that economic gains from blending allow 
it to operate on a narrower per bushel price margin. This emphasis on 
price downplays the functional attributes that affect nutrient content 
or processing characteristics. Moreover, kernel characteristics which 
increase the harvestability and storability of grain are the opposite 
of those that improve the efficiency of processing operations. Although 
processors want softer-textured, thin pericap kernels, plant breeders 
have generally focused on harder-textured products.
    Consequently, softer grains must be produced on a systematic and 
contractual basis since such varieties deteriorate when passing through 
the traditional commodity distribution system. These newer, often 
genetically-engineered grains are typically produced and marketed 
outside today's commodity system and purchased as ``manufactured'' or 
identity-preserved products.
    Cooperatives' infrastructure--farmer linkages, elevators, 
distribution channels, and grain processing activities--gives them an 
unparalled opportunity to position themselves within the emerging 
identity-preserved grain sector before alternative systems have 
emerged. Yet, it is not clear to what degree cooperatives are cognizant 
of or prepared for these opportunities. The survey will reveal a 
baseline of cooperative resources and preferences that, at a minimum, 
could raise cooperative awareness of industry opportunities, and, 
ultimately, contribute to the standardized production and marketing 
grain sector desired by processors.
    Because identity-preserved grains represent a new industry, data on 
production intentions, marketing, infrastructure requirements, and 
other facets of industry structure and performance are not available 
from alternative sources.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 15 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Local cooperatives involved in grain or feed marketing 
or handling.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 700.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 175 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Jean 
Mosley, Support Services Division, Regulation and Paperwork Management 
Branch, at (202) 690-0041.

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, Support Services Division, Regulations and Paperwork Management 
Branch, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0742, Washington, D.C. 20250. All comments 
to this notice will be summarized. All comments will also become a 
matter of a public record.

    Dated: April 28, 1999.
Dayton J. Watkins,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 99-11979 Filed 5-11-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P