[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 50 (Thursday, March 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13530-13531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4987]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Seek Reinstatement of 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, this 
notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS) to request approval for reinstatement and revision of an 
information collection, the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey. Revision 
to previous burden hours may be needed due to changes in the size of 
the target population, sampling design, and/or questionnaire length.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 12, 2008 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0234, by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include docket number 
above in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: (202) 720-6396
     Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions to: NASS 
Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336A, Mail 
Stop 2024, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20250-2024.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand deliver to: NASS Clearance 
Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336A, South Building, 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-2024.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0234.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Reinstate and Revise an 
Information Collection.
    Abstract: The Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey is conducted every 5 
years as authorized by the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 
No. 105-113). The 2008 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey will use a 
probability sample of all farms and a sample of horticultural 
operations that reported irrigation on the 2007 Census of Agriculture. 
This irrigation survey for commodities other than horticultural 
specialties will provide a comprehensive inventory of farm irrigation 
practices with detailed data relating to acres irrigated by category of 
land use, acres and yields of irrigated and non-irrigated crops, 
quantity of water applied, and method of application to selected crops. 
Also included will be 2008 expenditures for maintenance and repair of 
irrigation equipment and facilities; purchase of energy for on-farm 
pumping of irrigation water; investment in irrigation equipment, 
facilities, and land improvement; cost of water received from off-farm 
water supplies; and questions related to water reuse and security. The 
irrigation survey for horticultural specialties will provide the land 
area irrigated and source of water by state, and the irrigation by 
method used by State. A new combined table will be published showing 
the total estimated quantity of water applied for crops including 
horticultural specialties. Irrigation data are used by the farmers, 
their representatives, government agencies, and many other groups 
concerned with the irrigation industry and water use issues. This 
survey will provide the only source of dependable, comparable 
irrigation data by State. NASS will use the information collected only 
for statistical purposes and will publish the data only as tabulated 
totals.


[[Page 13531]]


    Authority: 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. This 
Notice is submitted 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).

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 20 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farmers, Ranchers, Farm Managers, and producers of 
Nursery, Greenhouse and Floricultural Products.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 16,700 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from NASS Clearance Officer, at (202) 720-
2248.
    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, 
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, February 19, 2008.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Associate Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E8-4987 Filed 3-12-08; 8:45 am]
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