[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70625-70626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26782]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 234 / Tuesday, December 7, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 70625]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

December 1, 2004.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) whether the 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 burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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 should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Pamela--Beverly [email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured 
of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this 
notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling 
(202) 720-8681.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Cold Storage.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0001.
    Summary of Collection: The primary objective of the National 
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue State 
and national estimates of crop and livestock production. The monthly 
Cold Storage Survey provides information on national supplies of food 
commodities in refrigerated storage facilities and is used as part of 
the country's preparedness in case of a national emergency. The data 
will be collected under the authority of 7 U.S.C. 2204. This statute 
specifies ``The Secretary of Agriculture shall procure and preserve all 
information concerning agriculture which he can obtain * * * by the 
collection of statistics * * * and shall distribute them among 
agriculturists.''
    Need and Use of the Information: USDA agencies such as the World 
Agricultural Outlook Board, Economic Research Service, and Agricultural 
Marketing Service use the information from the Cold Storage Report in 
setting and administering government commodity programs and in supply 
and demand analysis. Included in the report are 100 food items and 
stock figures that are used by food processors, food brokers, and 
farmers in making production, marketing and pricing decisions. The 
timing and frequency of the surveys have evolved to meet the needs of 
producers, facilities, agribusinesses, and government agencies.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 3,920.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: monthly; annually; biennially.
    Total Burden Hours: 6,341.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Field Crops Production.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0002.
    Summary of Collection: One of the National Agricultural Statistics 
Services' (NASS) primary functions is to prepare and issue current 
State and national estimates of crop and livestock production. The 
general authority for collecting this information is granted under U.S. 
Code Title 7, Section 2204. NASS will conduct field crop surveys to 
monitor agricultural developments across the country that may impact on 
the nation's food supply and to ensure that there are sufficient 
samples to provide accurate indications for NASS published estimates.
    Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information 
through the use of mail, telephone, and personnel interviews surveys. 
The Secretary of Agriculture uses estimates of crop production to 
administer farm program legislation and to make decisions relative to 
the export-import programs. Collecting this information less frequently 
would eliminate the data needed to keep the Department abreast of 
changes at the State and national level.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; business or other for-profits.
    Number of Respondents: 605,951.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: weekly, monthly, quarterly, 
annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 122,145.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Fruits, Nut, and Specialty Crops.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0039.
    Summary of Collection: The primary function of the National 
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue current 
official State and national estimates of crop and livestock production. 
Estimates of fruit, tree nuts, and specialty crops are an integral part 
of this program. These estimates support the NASS strategic plan to 
cover all agricultural cash receipts. The authority to collect these 
data is granted under U.S. Code Title 7, Section 2204. Information is 
collected on a voluntary basis from growers, processors, and handlers 
through surveys.
    Need and Use of the Information: Data reported on fruit, nut, and 
Hawaii tropical crops are used by NASS to estimate acreage, yield, 
production, utilization, and crop value in states with significant 
commercial production. These estimates are essential to farmers, 
processors, and handlers in making production and marketing decisions. 
Estimates from these inquiries are used by market order administrators 
in their determination of expected supplies of crop under federal and 
state market orders as well as competitive fruits and nuts.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 70,086.

[[Page 70626]]

    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: on occasion; annually; 
quarterly; semi-annually; monthly.
    Total Burden Hours: 10,117.

National Agriculture Statistics Service

    Title: Childhood Injury and Adult Occupational Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0235.
    Summary of Collection: Primary function of the National 
Agricultural Statistics Services (NASS) is to prepare and issue state 
and national estimates of crop and livestock production under the 
authority of 7 U.S.C. 2204. NASS will conduct a national childhood 
agricultural injury survey and an adult occupational farm injury survey 
focusing on minority farm operators. The study will provide estimates 
of annual childhood and adult nonfatal injury incidence rates, annual 
injury frequencies, and descriptive injury information for children 
under the age of 20 living, working or visiting farm operations.
    Need and Use of the Information: Data from this survey will provide 
a source of consistent information that the National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) can use to target funds 
appropriated by Congress for the prevention of childhood agricultural 
injuries and adult occupational injuries. No source of data on 
childhood injuries or adult occupational farm injuries exists that 
covers all aspects of the agricultural production sector. If this 
information is not collected, NIOSH's ability to track and evaluate the 
impact of its injury prevention efforts will decrease.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 50,500.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: other.
    Total Burden Hours: 12,111.

Sondra Blakey,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-26782 Filed 12-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P