[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6034-6035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1530]



[[Page 6034]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Conduct 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. 104-113) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR 
part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the 
intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to 
request approval to conduct a new information collection, the 
Distillers Grains Survey.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 7, 2006 to be 
assured of consideration.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph T. Reilly, Associate 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Distillers Grains Survey.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Conduct a New 
Information Collection.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service is to prepare and issue State and national estimates 
of crop and livestock production, prices, and disposition. The goal of 
this NASS project is to conduct a large-scale survey to measure 
livestock producers' use of distillers grains, which are nutritional 
by-products of ethyl alcohol (ethanol) production.
    President Bush has encouraged increases in energy production so 
America will be less dependent on foreign oil. U.S. production of 
ethanol is a part of that energy strategy and recent passage of the 
Renewable Fuels Standard by Congress strengthens the ethanol industry's 
continued expansion. As more ethanol is produced, there is also more of 
an important by-product of the corn ethanol dry mill process: 
distillers grains. These distillers grains contain valuable protein, 
fiber, vitamins, and minerals and can be utilized as quality livestock 
feed. Secretary of Agriculture Johanns, then Governor of Nebraska, said 
in July 2002, ``We must develop other markets for ethanol and its by-
products. As all ethanol producers can tell you, markets for the by-
products help make the plant profitable.'' Distillers grains are now 
sold mainly to livestock operations in the immediate vicinity of 
ethanol plants. Marketing of the increasingly large volume of 
distillers grains to more livestock producers at higher feed ratios 
would generate more sales, contributing to plant stability and 
profitability.
    Three small-scale studies of distillers grains were conducted in 
2003 by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in 
partnership with the USDA/Federal-State Market Improvement Program. A 
status and assessment survey was conducted for each segment of the 
industry--ethanol producers, feed companies and marketers, and 
livestock feeders--to obtain data such as operation profiles, types and 
quantities of distillers grains, product qualities, volume of sales, 
pricing, storage facilities, marketing channels, plant services, 
transportation requirements, species fed, and feed ratios. In its 
summary report, which was disseminated at conferences and workshops, 
the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship noted that 
ethanol plants ``must be able to sell their distillers grains, not just 
dispose of them * * *. It is an excellent product and more livestock 
feeders must be educated about its benefits and encouraged to make it a 
vital and substantial part of their feeding rations.'' To facilitate 
the marketing of distillers grains locally, regionally, and globally, 
the Department concluded that: (1) The nation's livestock feeders must 
be surveyed and tracked; different surveys should be administered to 
target feeders in States with the largest concentrations of specific 
species. (2) Any barriers to usage must be addressed. (3) The customer 
base must be expanded and the feed usage raised. (4) Distillers grains 
promotions and education must be greatly expanded to match the 
increased levels of distillers grains being produced.
    NASS will collaborate with Nebraska Corn Development's Utilization 
& Marketing Board, an agency of the State of Nebraska, to conduct a 
survey of livestock producers in 12 Midwestern States in early 2007. 
The survey will contact livestock operations to determine the extent of 
feeding of ethanol by-products, any factors preventing the use of 
distillers grains in feed rations, and aspects on which producers base 
their decisions regarding livestock feed, such as nutrient values, 
product consistency, product form, product testing, inclusion rates, 
economics, shelf life, storage, and transportation. The probability-
based survey will include beef (cow/calf and feedlot), dairy, and swine 
species with targeted size-of-operation criteria. Due to the complex 
structure of the poultry industry and limited resources available for 
this survey, poultry will not be studied. The survey will be conducted 
in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, 
Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The survey 
reference date will be the calendar year 2006. Approximately 9,400 
operations will be contacted by mail about February 1, 2007, with a 
second mailing and telephone follow-up later in the month. The National 
Agricultural Statistics Service will publish summaries in June 2007 at 
the regional level, combining all States surveyed for each livestock 
species. Most of the figures will be proportions or percentages which 
will allow statistical comparisons among operations not feeding 
distillers grains.
    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: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 20 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farm operators.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 9,400.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,200 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from Ginny McBride, NASS 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,

[[Page 6035]]

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 summarized in the request for OMB approval.

    Signed at Washington, DC, January 19, 2006.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6-1530 Filed 2-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P