[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48877-48878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20877]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Revise 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 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq. 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 
request revision to a currently approved information collection, (OMB 
No. 0535-0244) the Nursery Production Survey and Nursery and 
Floriculture Chemical Use Survey.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 20, 2003, to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Ginny McBride, NASS OMB Clearance 
Officer, USDA, Room 5336 South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20250 or to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol House, Associate Administrator, 
NASS, USDA, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Nursery Production Survey and Nursery and Floriculture 
Chemical Use Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0244.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2004.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Revise a Currently 
Approved Information Collection.
    Abstract: This NASS information collection will again measure 
production and value of key nursery products as well as chemical use in 
nursery and floriculture operations. The first Nursery Production 
Survey, covering the year 2000, revealed that gross value of sales for 
9 categories of nursery products totaled $3.32 billion in seventeen 
selected States. Although nursery production continues to be the 
fastest growing segment of American agriculture, the USDA has not 
previously made regular estimates of nursery production. The Nursery 
Production Survey will update the production and economic contribution 
of the nursery industry to U.S. agriculture every 2 years by conducting 
a census of nursery and greenhouse operations with sales over $10,000 
in the 17 major producing States. These operations will receive the 
production mail questionnaire with some telephone and personal 
interview follow-up for non-response.
    The first Nursery and Floriculture Chemical Use Survey measured 
chemical use, covering the year 2000, related to the production of 
nursery and floriculture crops in the six major producing States. The 
resulting publication, part of the NASS series on Agricultural Chemical 
Usage, summarized rates of application, total amount of active 
ingredients applied, and use of pest management practices. NASS 
collects on-farm chemical use data to enhance the quality of 
information used in the evaluation of issues related to agricultural 
chemicals, including pesticide registrations. Pest management data are 
used to measure integrated pest management (IPM) adoption levels and 
evaluate the impact of alternative pesticide regulations, policies, and 
practices. A sample of nursery and floriculture operations with sales 
over $10,000 in the major States will be personally interviewed, since 
chemical use data are not accurately collected by telephone or mail. 
Data collection for both surveys is scheduled to coincide with the 
annual Commercial Floriculture Survey (of production, OMB docket 
0535-0093) in January--March 2004. 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: Based on data collected on the 2000 Nursery 
Production Survey, the nursery production questionnaire is expected to 
average 35 minutes per respondent. Based on the 2000 Nursery and 
Floriculture Chemical Use Survey, it is estimated that the chemical use 
questionnaire will average 60 minutes per respondent.
    Respondents: Producers of nursery, greenhouse, and floriculture 
products.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 8,800.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,000 hours.

[[Page 48878]]

    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 included in the request for OMB approval.

    Signed at Washington, DC, July 14, 2003.
Carol House,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-20877 Filed 8-14-03; 8:45 am]
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