[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 12, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68562-68563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-28666]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Revise an Information Collection

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION: Intent to revise an information collection.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR 
part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the 
intent of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to 
discontinue the Milkfat Prices Survey as part of the Milk and Milk 
Products Surveys information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 20, 2002 to 
be assured of consideration. The final milkfat price report will be 
released on December 20, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Ginny McBride, NASS OMB Clearance 
Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 South Building, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250 or sent electronically to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich Allen, Associate Administrator, 
National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Milk and Milk Products Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0020.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 09/30/04.
    Type of Request: Intent to Revise an Information Collection.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service is to prepare and issue state and national estimates 
of crop and livestock production, prices, and disposition. The Milk and 
Milk Products Surveys obtain basic agricultural statistics on milk 
production and manufactured dairy products from farmers and processing 
plants throughout the nation. Data are gathered for milk production, 
dairy products, evaporated and condensed milk, manufactured dry milk, 
and manufactured whey products. Dairy statistics are used by the U. S. 
Department of Agriculture to help administer programs and by the dairy 
industry in planning, pricing, and projecting supplies of milk and milk 
products. In addition, the Agricultural Marketing Service uses the 
weekly dairy product prices to establish minimum prices for milk under 
the Federal Milk Marketing Order. The Agricultural Appropriation Act 
for fiscal year 2001 authorized funding to develop and implement a 
biweekly milkfat price survey to benefit all segments of the dairy 
industry. The survey was requested by dairy industry leaders to meet 
the industry's need for a better measure of the true value of milkfat. 
A pilot survey was conducted to determine if accurate and unbiased 
prices could be collected from buyers of cream. The data were analyzed 
and the

[[Page 68563]]

first milkfat price release was published on May 11, 2001. The survey 
was continued but, due to the nature of milkfat pricing, it was often 
difficult for respondents to report in a timely manner and revisions to 
previous week's figures were common. Contacts with representatives from 
the dairy industry and other government agencies indicated that the 
milkfat price data were not useful to the dairy industry and were not 
used in making marketing or regulatory decisions. Therefore NASS will 
discontinue the collection of milkfat price data and the biweekly 
release after December 20, 2002.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from Ginny McBride, the Agency OBM Clearance 
Officer, at (202) 720-5778.

    Signed at Washington, DC, October 30, 2002.
Fred Vogel,
Deputy Administrator for Programs and Products.
[FR Doc. 02-28666 Filed 11-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P