[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 106 (Friday, June 3, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 32564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-11024]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 106 / Friday, June 3, 2005 / 
Notices  

[[Page 32564]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. TM-05-03]


Request for an Extension of and Revision to 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 and revision to the 
currently approved information collection for the Farmers Market 
Questionnaire.

DATES: Comments received by August 2, 2005, will be considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Ed Ragland, Marketing Services 
Branch, Transportation and Marketing, Agricultural Marketing Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 
2646 South Building, Washington, DC 20250-0269. Comments may also be 
sent by e-mail to [email protected] or by fax to 202-690-0031. 
State that your comments refer to Docket No. TM-05-03.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Farmers Market Questionnaire.
    OMB Number: 0581-0169.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2007.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended 
(7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is 
responsible for conducting research to enhance market access for small 
and medium sized farmers. The role of the Marketing Services Branch 
(MSB) of AMS is to facilitate distribution of U.S. agricultural 
products. The branch identifies marketing opportunities, provides 
analysis to help take advantage of those opportunities and develops and 
evaluates solutions including improving farmers markets and other 
direct-to-consumer marketing activities. Various types of farmers 
markets serve different parts of the food marketing chain but all focus 
on the small-to medium-sized agricultural producers that have 
difficulty obtaining access to large scale commercial distribution 
channels. Information has been collected by the Marketing Services 
Branch periodically about the size and growth of farmers markets. On 
the revised questionnaire, information will be collected about the size 
and growth of markets, farmers served, products sold, sales, and 
management structure to better monitor how this marketing channel 
changes over time and the impact farmers markets have on the farming 
community nationwide.
    Currently, OMB 0581-0169 is approved for 3888 burden hours. The 
rise in the number of farmers markets since the previous submission and 
the new revised questionnaire will result in an increase of 198 burden 
hours.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .32 hours per response.
    Respondents: Farmers market managers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3700.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1850.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: .5.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 586 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. Comments may be sent to Ed Ragland, 
Marketing Services Branch, Transportation and Marketing Programs, 
Agricultural Marketing Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Room 2646 South Building, Washington, DC 20250-
0269. All comments received will be available for public inspection 
during regular business hours at the same address.
    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.
    AMS is committed to implementation of the Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act, which provides for the use of information resources to 
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations, 
including providing the public with the option of submitting 
information or transacting business electronically to the extent 
possible.

    Dated: May 27, 2005.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-11024 Filed 6-2-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P