[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 144 (Friday, July 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 43403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17039]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Request Approval To Revise and Extend 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 to revise and extend a currently 
approved information collection, the Milk and Milk Products Surveys. 
Revision to burden hours may be needed due to changes in the size of 
the target population, sample design, and/or questionnaire length.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by September 23, 2008 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0020, 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: 
David Hancock, NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Room 5336 South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20250-2024.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand deliver to: David Hancock, 
NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 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: Milk and Milk Products Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0020.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2008.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Revise and Extend an 
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. The Milk and Milk Products Surveys 
obtain basic agricultural statistics on milk production and 
manufactured dairy products from farmers and processing plants 
throughout the nation. Data are gathered for milk production, dairy 
products, evaporated and condensed milk, manufactured dry milk, and 
manufactured whey products. Milk production and manufactured dairy 
products statistics are used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) to help administer federal programs and by the dairy industry in 
planning, pricing, and projecting supplies of milk and milk products.

    Authority: Voluntary dairy information reporting is conducted 
under 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.

    Mandatory dairy product information reporting is based on the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended by the Dairy Market 
Enhancement Act of 2000 and the Farm Security and Rural Development Act 
of 2002 (U.S.C. 1637-1637b). This program requires each manufacturer to 
report to USDA the price, quantity, and moisture content of dairy 
products sold and each entity storing dairy products to report 
information on the quantity of dairy products stored. Any manufacturer 
that processes, markets, or stores less than 1,000,000 pounds of dairy 
products per year is exempt. USDA is required to maintain information, 
statistics, or documents obtained under these Acts in a manner that 
ensures that confidentiality is preserved regarding the identity of 
persons and proprietary business information, subject to verification 
by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) under Public Law No. 106-
532.
    This Notice is submitted in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, codified at 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 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 8 minutes per response. This 
average is based on the 9 different surveys in the information 
collection: 4 weekly, 2 monthly, 1 quarterly, and 2 annual. Total 
annual response is estimated to be 95,000 with an average annual 
frequency of 3.65 responses per respondent.
    Respondents: Farms and businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 26,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 12,500 hours. Copies 
of this information collection and related instructions can be obtained 
without charge from David Hancock, the Agency Clearance Officer, at 
(202) 690-2388, or at [email protected].
    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, 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, June 18, 2008.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-17039 Filed 7-24-08; 8:45 am]
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