[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 12 (Friday, January 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2496-2497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1040]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Revise and Extend 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. 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 a revision to and extension of a currently approved information 
collection, the Vegetable Surveys Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 24, 2003 to be 
assured of consideration.

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: Vegetable Surveys Program.
    OMB Number: 0535-0037.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2003.
    Type of Request: Intent to revise and extend a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The 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 Vegetable 
Surveys Program obtains basic agricultural statistics for fresh market 
and processing vegetables in major producing States. Vegetable 
statistics are used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help 
administer programs and by growers, processors, and marketers in making

[[Page 2497]]

production and marketing decisions. The fresh market estimating program 
now consists of 24 selected crops and the processing program consists 
of 8 principal crops. To accommodate a reduction in allocated funds, a 
cut of approximately 20 percent was made in number of commodities, 
number of States surveyed, and sample sizes.
    These data will be 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 10 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farms and businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 8,800.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,500 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from Ginny McBride, NASS 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.
    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, November 19, 2002.
Rich Allen,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-1040 Filed 1-16-03; 8:45 am]
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