[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 50 (Monday, March 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 12117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5712]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Revise and Extend an 
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 the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to 
request approval to revise and extend a currently approved information 
collection, the Agricultural Prices Surveys.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 19, 2004 to be 
assured of consideration.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Carol House, Associate 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Room 4117 South Building, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-2001, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Agricultural Prices.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0003.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2004.
    Type of Request: Intent to revise and extend a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue State and national 
estimates of crop and livestock production and prices. The Agricultural 
Prices surveys provide data on the prices received by farmers and 
prices paid by them for production goods and services. NASS estimates 
based on these surveys are used by agencies of the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture to prepare the economic accounts of the United States. 
These price estimates are also used to compute Parity Prices in 
accordance with requirements of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 
as amended (Title III, Subtitle A, Section 301a). In addition, price 
data are used by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to help 
determine payment rates, program option levels, and disaster programs.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 11 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farmers and farm-related businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 82,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 17,000 hours.
    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.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from Ginny McBride, the Agency 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. Comments may be 
sent to: Ginny McBride, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Room 5330B South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-2024 or [email protected]. 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 February 26, 2004.
Carol House,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-5712 Filed 3-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P