[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 96 (Monday, May 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 27012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12391]


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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 
seek approval to revise and extend a currently approved information 
collection, the Agricultural Surveys Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by July 23, 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: Carol House, Acting Associate 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Agricultural Surveys Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0213.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2004.
    Type of Request: Intent to extend and revise a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The National Agricultural Statistics Service is 
responsible for preparing and issuing State and national estimates of 
crop and livestock production, grain stocks, farm numbers, land values, 
on-farm pesticide usage, and pest crop management practices. The 
Agricultural Surveys Program contains a series of surveys that obtains 
basic agricultural data from farmers and ranchers throughout the Nation 
for preparing agricultural estimates and forecasts of crop acreage, 
yield, and production; stocks of grains and soybeans; hog and pig 
numbers; sheep inventory and lamb crop; cattle inventory; and cattle on 
feed. Grazing fees, land values, pesticide usage, and pest management 
practices data are also collected.
    Uses of the statistical information are extensive and varied. 
Producers, farm organizations, agribusinesses, State and national farm 
policy makers, and government agencies are important users of these 
statistics. Agricultural statistics are used to plan and administer 
other, related Federal and State programs in such areas as consumer 
protection, conservation, foreign trade, education, and recreation.
    The cattle survey portion of the programs will be changed for 
January 2004 only to add two questions regarding non-ambulatory cattle. 
Aggregated totals will be provided to the U. S. Department of 
Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for the 
National Animal Health Monitoring System, which will assess the number 
of farm operations experiencing down animals. That information will be 
used in the design of a major study to be conducted in 2005.
    The Agricultural Surveys Program had approval from OMB for a 3-year 
period. NASS intends to request that the program be approved for 
another 3 years. 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 15 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farms.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 547,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 139,000 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, April 24, 2003.
Carol House,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-12391 Filed 5-16-03; 8:45 am]
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