[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 158 (Thursday, August 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47580-47581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18793]


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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, this 
notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS) to seek approval to conduct two new information 
collections, the 2008 On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey and 
the 2008 Organic Production and Marketing Survey.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 14, 2008 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
NEW, 2008 On Farm-Renewable Energy Production Survey and the 2008 
Organic Production and Marketing Survey, by any of the following 
methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include docket number 
and title 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: 2008 On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey, and 2008 
Organic Production and Marketing Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535--NEW.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Conduct two Information 
Collections as mandated by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
2008.
    Abstract: The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of 
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will request 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for both the 
On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey and the Organic Products 
Survey to be conducted as follow-on surveys from the 2007 Census of 
Agriculture.
    (1) The 2008 Energy Produced on Farms Survey will use as a sampling 
universe every respondent on the 2007 Census of Agriculture who 
reported energy generation on the farm using wind or solar technology, 
methane digester, etc. This energy survey will provide a comprehensive 
inventory of farm-generated energy practices with detailed data 
relating to category or type of energy produced (wind, solar, 
hydropower, biomass, methane digester, geothermal, etc.), how much 
energy was generated, if any energy was sold onto a power grid, and the 
average payment received per kilowatt hour. Data collection will be in 
the Spring of 2009 with a final report published in the Fall of 2009. 
Data will be published at both the U.S. and State level where possible.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 20 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farmers, ranchers, and farm managers self identified 
as producers of energy through the 2007 Census of Agriculture.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 16,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,500 hours.
    (2) The 2008 Organic Production and Marketing Survey will use as a 
sampling universe every respondent on the 2007 Census of Agriculture 
who reported organic production for sale in 2007. This survey will 
provide organic production by commodity, marketing practices (handling, 
distribution, retail, and consumer purchasing patterns), and prices 
received by organic producers. Data collection will be in the Spring of 
2009 with a final report published in the Spring of 2010. Data will be 
published at the U.S. and State level where possible.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 60 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farmers, ranchers, and farm managers self identified 
as organic producers through the 2007 Census of Agriculture.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 15,500 hours.

The primary objectives of the National Agricultural Statistics Service 
are to prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop 
production, livestock production, economic statistics, and 
environmental statistics related to agriculture and to conduct the 
Census of Agriculture and its follow on surveys. This notice request is 
in response to a mandate in 7 U.S.C. 5925c, as amended by the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Section 10302, Public Law 110-
246.
    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. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget regulations 
at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995).
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from the NASS OMB Clearance Officer at (202) 
720-2248.
    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

[[Page 47581]]

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, August 4, 2008.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-18793 Filed 8-13-08; 8:45 am]
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