[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 26, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 50299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19699]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 26, 2008 / Notices  

[[Page 50299]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. AMS-TM-08-0077; TM-08-11]


Request for an Extension to a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget, for an extension of the currently approved 
information collection for the Farmers Market Questionnaire.

DATES: Comments received by October 27, 2008 will be considered.
    Additional Information or Comments: Contact Ed Ragland, Marketing 
Services Division, Transportation and Marketing Programs, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence 
Ave., SW., Room 2646 South Building, Ag Stop 0269, Washington, DC 
20250-0269; 202-720-8317. Comments should reference Docket No. AMS-TM-
08-0077; TM-08-11.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Farmers Market Questionnaire.
    OMB Number: 0581-0169.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2009.
    Type of Request: Extension to the currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended 
(7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.), AMS is responsible for conducting research to 
enhance market access for small- and medium-sized farmers. The role of 
the Marketing Services Division (MSD) of AMS is to facilitate 
distribution of U.S. agricultural products. The division identifies 
marketing opportunities, provides analysis to help take advantage of 
those opportunities and develops and evaluates solutions including 
improving farmers markets and other direct-to-consumer marketing 
activities. Various types of farmers markets serve different parts of 
the food marketing chain but all focus on the small- to medium-sized 
agricultural producers that have difficulty obtaining access to large 
scale commercial distribution channels. Information has been collected 
by the MSD periodically about the size and growth of markets, farmers 
served, products sold, sales, and management structure to better 
monitor how this marketing channel changes over time and the impact 
farmers markets have on the farming community nationwide. Estimate of 
Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is 
estimated to average .316 hours per response.
    Respondents: Farmers market managers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4700.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1622.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: .345.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 512 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Comments may be sent to the following 
addresses:
     Mail: Ed Ragland, Marketing Services Division, 
Transportation and Marketing Programs, Agricultural Marketing Services, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 2646 
South Building, Ag Stop 0269, Washington, DC 20250-0269.
     Internet: http://www.regulations.gov.
    All written comments should be identified with the docket number 
AMS-TM-08-0077; TM-08-11. It is our intention to have all comments 
whether submitted by mail or Internet available for viewing on the 
Regulations.gov (http://www.regulations.gov) Internet site. Comments 
submitted will also be available for public inspection in person at 
USDA-AMS, Transportation and Marketing Programs, Marketing Services 
Division, Room 2646-South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, (except official Federal holidays). Persons 
wanting to visit the USDA South Building to view comments received are 
requested to make an appointment in advance by calling (202) 720-8317.
    The information collected is used only by authorized employees of 
the USDA, AMS.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: August 20, 2008.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator,Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-19699 Filed 8-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P