[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 190 (Friday, October 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53314-53315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25515]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Extend and Revise a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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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 an extension for and revision to a currently approved 
information collection, the Agricultural Surveys Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 6, 1999 to 
be assured for 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: Agricultural Surveys Program.
    OMB Number: 0535-0213.
    Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2000.
    Type of Request: Intent to extend and revise a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The National Agricultural Statistics Service is 
responsible for collecting and issuing state and national estimates of 
crop and livestock production, grain stocks, farm numbers, land values, 
on-farm pesticide usage, and pest crop management practices.
    The Agricultural Surveys Program contains a series of surveys that 
obtains basic agricultural data from farmers and ranchers throughout 
the Nation for preparing agricultural estimates and forecasts of crop 
acreages, yield, and production; stocks of grains and soybeans; hog and 
pig numbers; sheep inventory and lamb crop; cattle inventory; and 
cattle on feed. Grazing fees, land values, pesticide usage, and pest 
management practices data are also collected.
    Uses of the statistical information are extensive and varied. 
Producers, farm organizations, agribusinesses, state and national farm 
policy makers, and government agencies are important users of these 
statistics. Agricultural statistics are used to plan and administer 
other related Federal and state programs in such areas as consumer 
protection, conservation, foreign trade, education and recreation.
    One important part of this program, the Quarterly Hog Survey, is 
being revised to discontinue collecting and publishing the market hog 
inventory by weight groups. Currently, the Quarterly Hog Survey 
collects information on the inventory of total hogs, breeding hogs, 
market hogs by weight groups, (under 60 pounds, 60 to 119 pounds, 120-
179 pounds, and over 180 pounds); monthly and quarterly sows farrowing 
and pig crops; and sows farrowing intentions for the coming 6 months in 
3-month intervals.
    Hog producers have requested that NASS discontinue asking the 
questions on market hogs by weight groups since it is difficult for 
them to accurately provide the information. Responses to the weight 
group questions are often the producers' best estimates since their 
record keeping systems generally do not readily provide the 
information. Plans are for the Quarterly Hog Survey to continue to 
provide information on total market hogs, and monthly and quarterly pig 
crops. Data users can utilize monthly pig crop data in lieu of 
marketing hog weight group data to get an indication of hog supplies 
coming to market over the next six months. Publication of the market 
hog weight groups will be discontinued starting with the June 23, 2000 
Hog Report.
    A second revision to the program is the addition of questions 
regarding sheep and goat losses to predators and non-predators, methods 
being used to reduce these losses, and the cost of these preventative 
measures. These additional questions will be asked only in January 
2000. Aggregated totals will be provided to the USDA's Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service action agency, Wildlife Services. These data 
will be used by Wildlife Services to help identify the causes of 
livestock losses.
    The third revision is the addition of three questions to the Fall 
Area and January Cattle Surveys and one question to the January Sheep 
and Goat Survey. These questions will be asked annually in selected 
states. The cattle questions will provide additional detail regarding 
the expected calf crop and animal slaughter practices. The additional 
goat question will help differentiate the breeding goals of Angora goat 
producers between meat and wool production.
    The Agricultural Surveys Program has approval from OMB for a 3-year 
period. NASS intends to request that the program be approved for 
another 3 years.
    These data are collected under the authority of 7 U.S.C. 2204(a). 
Individually identifiable data collected under this authority are 
governed by Section 1770 of the Food Security Act of 1985, 7 U.S.C. 
2276, which requires USDA to afford strict confidentiality to non-
aggregated data provided by respondents.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 15 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farms.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 547,000.

[[Page 53315]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 139,000 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., September 13, 1999.
Rich Allen,
Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
[FR Doc. 99-25515 Filed 9-30-99; 8:45 am]
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