[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 111 (Monday, June 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 39673]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-14538]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


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

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments request.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's (RBS) 
intention to request approval of a new information collection in order 
to render service to associations of producers of agricultural, 
forestry, 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 August 9, 2002, to 
be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce J. Reynolds, Agricultural 
Economist, RBS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Stop 3253, Washington, DC 20250-3253, Telephone (202) 720-
3694.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Survey of Cooperatives on Selecting Candidates for Director 
Elections.
    Type of Request: New Information Collection.
    Abstract: The mission of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service 
(RBS) 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 so surveyed the results 
thereof; and with the consent of the association so 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.
    Cooperatives are a distinct form of business by having ownership 
and control by a membership of those who are users of the services 
provided by such businesses. Their democratic governance involves 
elections of and by members to the boards of directors. Cooperatives 
operate in highly competitive industries and require not only the 
highest caliber of management, but also effective leadership and 
guidance from those members who are elected to serve on boards. This 
survey is designed to pool the knowledge of different methods used by 
cooperatives in selecting candidates for election to their boards. 
Survey results will be summarized for purposes of comparison and 
information sharing. Alternative methods of selecting candidates will 
be analyzed in a context of appropriate and effective methods for 
different types of cooperatives in terms of membership size and 
complexity of business operations. No previous surveys of this topic 
have been conducted for U.S. agricultural cooperatives.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 13.75 minutes (0.23 hours) per 
response.
    Respondents: Cooperatives with at least $5M in assets and at least 
200 members.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 490.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: one.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 113 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Jean 
Mosley, Regulations and Paperwork Management Branch, at (202) 692-0041.

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, Regulations and Paperwork 
Management Branch, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 0742, Washington, DC 20250. All 
responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request 
for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of a public 
record.

    Dated: June 4, 2002.
John Rosso,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 02-14538 Filed 6-7-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P