[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 107 (Monday, June 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29928-29929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13911]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Reinstate a Previously Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. No. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR 
part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the 
intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to 
request reinstatement of a previously approved information collection, 
the 2002 Census of Agriculture.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 8, 2001 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Rich Allen, Associate 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Room 4117 South Building, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-2000, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: The 2002 Census of Agriculture.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0226.
    Type of Request: Intent to Request Reinstatement of a Previously 
Approved Information Collection.
    Abstract: The census of agriculture is the primary source of 
statistics

[[Page 29929]]

concerning the nation's agricultural industry. It provides the only 
basis of consistent, comparable data for each county, county 
equivalent, and State in the United States and its outlying insular 
areas. The census is conducted every 5 years, the last one being for 
1997. The 2002 census of agriculture will again cover all agricultural 
operations in the 50 States, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin 
Islands, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) which 
meet the census definition for a farm. For the States, Guam, and CNMI, 
a farm is any place that produced and sold, or normally would produce 
and sell, $1,000 or more of agricultural products during the census 
year. For Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands it is any place with 
$500 in sales.
    Data collection for the censuses of agriculture for the 50 States 
and Puerto Rico will be conducted primarily by mail-out/mail-back 
procedures. Data collection for Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and CNMI 
will be conducted using direct enumeration methods. NASS conducted a 
census form content test (OMB #5035-0243) during the winter of 2000-
2001 to evaluate new content items, report form design and format, and 
processing procedures.
    To minimize respondent burden, NASS limits the items asked on 75 
percent of the report forms to the basic subjects asked in the previous 
census, such as land use and ownership, crop acreage and production, 
grain storage, livestock and poultry inventories, federal farm program 
payments, income from farm-related sources, and operator 
characteristics. The other 25 percent of report forms include 
additional questions on hired labor, production expenses, fertilizer 
and chemical usage, machinery and equipment, and market value of land 
and buildings. Report forms are tailored to various regions of the 
country to further reduce burden. A screening survey, conducted prior 
to the census, will enable NASS to eliminate non-farm operations from 
the census mail list and determine respondent eligibility for receiving 
the appropriate census mail package. The census of agriculture is 
required by law under the ``Census of Agriculture Act of 1997,'' Pub. 
L. No. 105-113(7 U.S.C. 2204(g)). The law guarantees farm operators 
that their individual information will be kept confidential. NASS uses 
the information only for statistical purposes and publishes only 
tabulated total data. These data are used by Congress when developing 
or changing farm programs. Many national and state programs are 
designed or allocated based on census data, i.e., soil conservation 
projects, funds for cooperative extension programs, and research 
funding. Private industry uses the data to provide more effective 
production and distribution systems for the agricultural community.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information will be about 24 minutes per response from all sources.
    Respondents: Farm and ranch operators.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,550,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,450,000 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from Ginny McBride, 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, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be 
sent to: Ginny McBride, Agency OMB Clearance Officer, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, Room 5330B South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20250-2009 or [email protected].
    All responses to this notice will become a matter of public record 
and be summarized in the request for OMB approval.

    Signed at Washington, DC, May 1, 2001.
Rich Allen,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-13911 Filed 6-1-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P