[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