[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 54 (Monday, March 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 12110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6254]


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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 the Floriculture Survey. 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 May 22, 2009 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0093, 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: Floriculture Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0093.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 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 
Floriculture Survey is currently conducted in 15 States and obtains 
basic agricultural statistics on production and value of floriculture 
and nursery products. The target population for this survey is all 
operations with production and sales of at least $10,000 of 
floriculture products. New floriculture operations that were discovered 
during the 2007 Census of Agriculture will be added to the list of 
potential respondents. The retail and wholesale quantity and value of 
sales are collected for fresh cut flowers, potted flowering plants, 
foliage plants, annual bedding/garden plants, herbaceous perennials, 
cut cultivated florist greens, propagative floriculture material, and 
unfinished plants. Additional detail on area in production, operation 
value of sales, and agricultural workers is included. Content changes 
are minimal year to year, but always managed to avoid significant 
changes to the length and burden associated with each questionnaire. 
These statistics are used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help 
administer programs and by growers and marketers in making production 
and marketing decisions.
    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).
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average between 10 and 60 minutes per 
respondent. Operations with less than $100,000 in sales of floriculture 
products respond to a reduced number of questions related to operation 
characteristics while operations with sales greater than $100,000 
complete the entire questionnaire.
    Respondents: Farms and businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 9,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,250 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, through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, technological, or other forms of information 
technology collection techniques.
    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, February 2, 2009.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Associate Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E9-6254 Filed 3-20-09; 8:45 am]
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