[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 25 (Monday, February 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6599-6600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2563]


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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, 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 request revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection, the Organic Production Survey. 
Revision to burden hours will 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 April 8, 2011 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0249, 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

[[Page 6600]]

Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, (202) 720-4333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Organic Production Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0249.
    Expiration Date of Previous Approval: April 30, 2012.
    Type of Request: To revise and extend a currently approved 
information collection for a period of three years.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue State and national 
estimates of crop and livestock production, prices, and disposition as 
well as economic statistics, farm numbers, land values, on-farm 
pesticide usage, pest crop management practices, as well as the Census 
of Agriculture. In 2009, NASS conducted the 2008 Organic Production 
Survey (OMB  0535-0249). This was originally designed to be 
conducted once every five years as a follow-on-survey to the Census of 
Agriculture. The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) has made a formal 
agreement with NASS to conduct this as an annual survey. The pilot 
survey year would be 2012 for the reference period of 2011. The 
questionnaire would be similar to what was used in the 2009 survey. 
Some noticeable changes that would occur in the annual survey include 
the removal of the organic floriculture and nursery questions and some 
of the organic production practices questions. In their place we plan 
to incorporate more commodity specific questions that would be directed 
at different commodities each year. In the pilot year we plan to target 
organically grown apples and grapes. Each year as new target 
commodities are selected for this survey an update will be submitted to 
OMB containing the non-substantive changes.
    The census-based survey will include all known farm operators who 
produce organically certified crops and/or livestock. The survey will 
be conducted in all States. Some operational level data will be 
collected to use in classifying each operation for summary purposes. 
The majority of the questions will involve production data (acres 
planted, acres harvested, quantity harvested, quantity sold, value of 
sale, etc.), production expenses, and marketing practices.
    The pilot survey reference date will be the calendar year 2011. 
Approximately 15,000 operations will be contacted by mail in early 
January 2012, with a second mailing later in the month to non-
respondents. Telephone and personal enumeration will be used for 
remaining non-response follow up. The National Agricultural Statistics 
Service will publish summaries in October 2012 at both the State level 
and for each major organic commodity when possible. Some State level 
data may need to be published on regional or national level due to 
confidentiality rules.
    Under the 2008 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 110-246, Section 12023, Part D) 
some of the duties of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) are 
defined as ``(i) IN GENERAL.--The Corporation shall submit to the 
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate an 
annual report on progress made in developing and improving Federal crop 
insurance for organic crops, including--``(I) the numbers and varieties 
of organic crops insured; ``(II) the development of new insurance 
approaches; and ``(III) the progress of implementing the initiatives 
required under this paragraph, including the rate at which additional 
price elections are adopted for organic crops.''
    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 
as amended, 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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) and Office of 
Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320.
    NASS also complies with OMB Implementation Guidance, 
``Implementation Guidance for Title V of the E-Government Act, 
Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 
2002 (CIPSEA),'' Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June 15, 2007, p. 
33362.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farmers and Ranchers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 7,900 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, technological or other forms of 
information technology collection methods.
    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, January 13, 2011.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-2563 Filed 2-4-11; 8:45 am]
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