[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 197 (Thursday, October 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 59596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24070]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 197 / Thursday, October 9, 2008 / 
Notices  

[[Page 59596]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

October 6, 2008.
    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, D.C. 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) 720-8958.
    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.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0234.
    Summary of Collection: The Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey (FRIS) 
is an integral part of the 2007 Census of Agriculture and is conducted 
under the authority of the Census of Agriculture Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 
105-113). This law requires the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a 
census of agriculture beginning in 2002 and every fifth year thereafter 
(prior to that the census was conducted by the Department of Commerce). 
The 2008 FRIS will be obtaining data describing the irrigation 
activities of U.S. farm operations. Some of these activities are of 
national concern, such as the use of chemigation, fertigation and 
water-conserving practices of irrigators. The 2008 FRIS will also 
incorporate a second version of the questionnaire that will be directed 
at horticultural producers.
    Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information from 
the FRIS on acres irrigated by land use category, acres and yields of 
irrigated and non-irrigated crops, quantity of water applied and method 
of application to selected crops, acres irrigated and quantity of water 
used by source, acres irrigated by type of water distribution systems, 
and number of irrigation wells and pumps. The primary purpose of FRIS 
is to provide detailed data on water management practices and water 
uses in American agriculture, and to on-farm irrigation activities for 
use in preparing a wide variety of water-related local programs, 
economic models, legislative initiatives, market analyses, and 
feasibility studies. The absence of FRIS data would certainly affect 
irrigation policy decision.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 35,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (one-time).
    Total Burden Hours: 23,933.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-24070 Filed 10-8-08; 8:45 am]
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