[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 229 (Thursday, November 29, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67593-67594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23157]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

November 26, 2007.
    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), [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.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Organic Handler Market Promotion Assessment Exemption.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0216.
    Summary of Collection: Industries enter into a marketing order 
program under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act (AMAA) of 1937, 
as amended by U.S.C. 601-674. Marketing Order programs provide an 
opportunity for producers of fresh fruit, vegetables, and specialty 
crops, in specified production areas, to work together to solve 
marketing problems that cannot be solved individually. In 2002, section

[[Page 67594]]

501 of the Fair Act was amended (7 U.S.C. 7401) to exempt any person 
that produces and markets solely 100 percent organic products, and that 
does not produce any conventional or non-organic products, from paying 
assessments under a commodity promotion law with respect to any 
agricultural commodity that is produced on a certified organic farm as 
defined in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected on form 
FV-649, is necessary to assist the applicants in making their 
certifications and the committees or boards to determine an applicant's 
eligibility, to properly administer the assessment exemption and to 
verify compliance.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; farms.
    Number of Respondents: 103.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; reporting: On occasion; 
annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 52.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Lamb Promotion, Research, and Information Program: 
Referendum Procedures.
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0227.
    Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has 
the responsibility for the national commodity research and promotion 
programs. The authority for the Lamb Promotion, Research, and 
Information Order is established under the Commodity Promotion, 
Research, and Information Act of 1996 (Act) (7 U.S.C. 7411 et seq.). 
This Act establishes procedures to conduct a referendum among persons 
subject to assessments who, during a representative period announced by 
the Secretary of Agriculture, have engaged in the production, feeding, 
handling, or slaughter of lamb or the exportation of lamb or lamb 
products.
    Need and Use of the Information: The referendum, using form LS-86, 
is to determine whether the persons subject to assessments favor the 
continuation, suspension, or termination of the Order. Provision is 
made for voting in-person, facsimile or by mail at Farm Service Agency 
county offices only during the period of the referendum.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 69,761.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,093.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Title: Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP).
    OMB Control Number: 0581-0235.
    Summary of Collection: The purposes of the Farmers Market Promotion 
Program (FMPP) are to increase domestic consumption of agricultural 
commodities by improving and expanding, assisting in the improvement 
and expansion, and to develop or aid in the development of new domestic 
farmers' markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture 
programs, and other direct producer-to-consumer infrastructure. The 
Farmer-to-Consumer Marketing Act of 1976 (Act) directs USDA to 
encourage the direct marketing of agricultural commodities from farmers 
to consumers, and to promote the development and expansion of direct 
marketing of agricultural commodities from farmers to consumers. The 
recently authorized Farmer's Market Promotion Program (FMPP) (7 U.S.C. 
3005), section 6 of 7 U.S.C. 3004 directs the Secretary of Agriculture 
to ``carry out a program to make grants to eligible entities for 
projects to establish, expand, and promote farmers' markets.''
    Need and Use of the Information: The Agricultural Marketing Service 
will review grant application information to determine eligibility of 
applicants for participation in FMPP, evaluate goals, objectives, work-
plans, expected results and budget for the project.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 400.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: One time.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,944.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-23157 Filed 11-28-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P