[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 47160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-22801]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 176 / Tuesday, September 11, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 47160]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation


Notice of Intent to Seek Approval to Conduct an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Risk Management Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Risk Management Agency's intent to request 
approval for an information collection, the Survey of Risk Management 
Practices of Specialty Crop Producers.

DATES: Written comments on this notice will be accepted until close of 
business November 13, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
David Fulk, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Research 
and Evaluation Division, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Risk 
Management Agency, 6501 Beacon Drive, Mail Stop 813, Kansas City, MO 
64133.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Fulk or Virginia Guzman, at the 
Kansas City, MO address listed above, telephone (816) 926-6343 or (816) 
926-3843, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Survey of Risk Management Practices of Specialty Crop 
Producers.
    OMB Number: 0563-NEW.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Conduct an Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The goal of this project is to expand the knowledge base 
related to the risk management practices and preferences of specialty 
crop producers. Initially the survey will be limited to California, 
Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York.
    Studies by the Economic Research Service (ERS) have indicated that 
the specialty crops, in general, differ in risk structure compared with 
the traditional crops for which the current insurance programs were 
primarily designed. That analysis supports the idea that the current 
insurance structures may need to be redesigned to provide adequate 
insurance programs for producers of specialty crops. Addressing the 
question of how existing crop insurance programs can best be adapted to 
specialty crops is vital since it relates directly to the core issues 
of participation and performance. Policy options for crop insurance 
reform need to be analyzed carefully by examining the risks specific to 
specialty crop producers and analyzing growers' demand for risk 
management tools. Applicable economic studies for specialty crops are 
generally sparse. This survey will provide essential information 
relating to crop insurance for California, Florida, New York, and 
Pennsylvania specialty crop producers.
    The project addresses the following objectives: (1) To determine 
why (federal) crop insurance is utilized at current levels by specialty 
crop producers in California, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania; (2) 
to identify the potential market for crop insurance for specialty crop 
producers in the four states; and (3) to determine how crop insurance 
programs could be designed to better meet the needs of specialty crop 
producers in California, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
    The survey will cover approximately 67,000 farms operated as sole 
proprietorships, partnerships, or family corporations. The respondent 
will be the operator of each farm. The projected useable responses are 
approximately 53,200 cases. In addition to the presolicitation request 
and the actual mailed questionnaire, follow-up phone interviews will be 
used to contact non-respondents. The California Agricultural Statistics 
Service, Florida Agricultural Statistics Service, Pennsylvania 
Agricultural Statistics Service and the New York Agricultural 
Statistics Service will conduct all data collection activities and be 
responsible for all respondent contacts. Approximately two weeks prior 
to the actual survey mailing, pre-survey letters will be sent to the 
sample members explaining the purpose of the study and alerting them to 
the arrival and importance of the upcoming survey.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
concerning this information collection activity. These comments will 
help:
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, 
electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Please submit written comments to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20503.
    Estimate of Burden: Test interviews indicated that completion of 
the survey would require approximately 45 minutes. There will be a pre-
survey letter mailed to 67,000 specialty crop farm operators in the 
four states, as well as follow-up phone interviews with non-
respondents.
    Respondents: Specialty crop farm operators in California, New York, 
Florida, and Pennsylvania.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 53,600 responses.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 53,600.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 41,600 hours.

    Signed in Washington, DC, September 4, 2001.
Craig A. Witt,
Acting Manager, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
[FR Doc. 01-22801 Filed 9-10-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-08-P