[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 20346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7765]



[[Page 20346]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. LS-05-04]


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing 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. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget, for an extension of the currently approved 
information collection used to compile and generate the Federally 
Inspected Estimated Daily Slaughter Report for the Livestock and Grain 
Market News Branch.

DATES: Comments received by June 20, 2005, will be considered.
    Additional Information or Comments: Contact Jimmy A. Beard; 
Assistant to the Chief; Livestock and Grain Market News Branch, 
Livestock and Seed Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture; 1400 Independence Avenue SW.; STOP 0252; 
Room 2619-S; Washington, DC 20250-0252; Phone (202) 720-8054; Fax (202) 
690-3732; or e-mailed to [email protected]. All comments 
received will be available for public inspection at this address during 
the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on the 
Internet at www.ams.usda.gov/lsmnpubs.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Plan for Estimating Daily Livestock 
Slaughter Under Federal Inspection.
    OMB Number: 0581-0050.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 09-30-2005.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621, et 
seq), section 203(g) directs and authorizes the collection and 
dissemination of marketing information including adequate outlook 
information, on a market area basis, for the purpose of anticipating 
and meeting consumer requirements, aiding in the maintenance of farm 
income, and to bring about a balance between production and 
utilization.
    Under this market news program, USDA issues a market news report 
estimating daily livestock slaughter under Federal inspection. This 
report is compiled by AMS on a voluntary basis in cooperation with the 
livestock and meat industry. Market news reporting must be timely, 
accurate, and continuous if it is to be useful to producers, 
processors, and the trade in general. The daily livestock slaughter 
estimates are provided at the request of industry and are used to make 
production and marketing decisions.
    The Daily Estimated Livestock Slaughter Under Federal Inspection 
Report is used by a wide range of industry contacts, including packers, 
processors, producers, brokers and retailers of meat and meat products. 
The livestock and meat industry requested that USDA issue slaughter 
estimates (daily and weekly), by species, for cattle, calves, hogs and 
sheep in order to assist them in making immediate production and 
marketing decisions and as a guide to the volume of meat in the 
marketing channel. The information requested from respondents includes 
their estimation of the current day's slaughter at their plant(s) and 
the actual slaughter for the previous day. Also, the Government is a 
large purchaser of meat and related products and this report assists 
other Government agencies in providing timely information on the 
quantity of meat entering the processing channels.
    The information must be collected, compiled, and disseminated by an 
impartial third-party, in a manner which protects the confidentiality 
of the reporting entity. AMS is in the best position to provide this 
service.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .0333 hours per response.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, individuals or 
households, farms, and the Federal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 72.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 18,720.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 260.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 624 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Contact Jimmy A. Beard; Assistant to the 
Chief; Livestock and Grain Market News Branch, Livestock and Seed 
Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture; 1400 Independence Ave; STOP 0252; Room 2619-S; Washington, 
DC 20250-0252; Phone (202) 720-8054; Fax (202) 690-3732; or e-mailed to 
[email protected]. All comments received will be available 
for public inspection during regular business hours at the same address 
and on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsmnpubs.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: April 14, 2005.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-7765 Filed 4-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P