[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 208 (Monday, October 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63674-63675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25565]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service.

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 revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection for Field Crop Production. Revision to 
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 December 26, 2008 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0002, 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: Field Crop Production.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0002.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2009.
    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, prices, and disposition. The Field 
Crop Production Program consists of probability field crop surveys and 
supplemental panel surveys. The panel surveys capture unique crop 
characteristics such as the concentration of crops in localized 
geographical areas. These surveys are extremely valuable for 
commodities where acreage and yield are published at the county level. 
The Field Crop Production Program was last approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget in September of 2008 for a 6-month emergency 
approval period. The 2008 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 110-2465) required changes 
be made to the previous docket which had an expiration date of December 
31, 2009. The current expiration date is March 31, 2009. NASS intends 
to request that the survey be approved for another 3 years.
    Authority: These data will be collected 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. 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).
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this information 
collection is based on 14 individual surveys with expected responses of 
5-80 minutes and frequency of 1-40 times per year. Estimated number of 
responses per respondent is 1.31.

[[Page 63675]]

    Respondents: Farms.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 625,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 170,000 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from David Hancock, NASS Clearance Officer, 
at (202) 690-2388.
    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, October 10, 2008.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Associate Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E8-25565 Filed 10-24-08; 8:45 am]
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