[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 45328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18648]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 147 / Tuesday, July 31, 2012 / 
Notices  

[[Page 45328]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Information Collection; Measurement Service Records

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all interested 
individuals and organizations on a revision of a currently approved 
information collection associated with the Measurement Service Records.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by October 1, 2012.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your 
comments, include date, volume and page number, the OMB Control Number, 
and the title of the information collection of this issue of the 
Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Joe Lewis, Common Provisions Branch, Production 
Emergencies and Compliance Division, USDA, FSA, Farm Programs, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Mail Stop 0517, Washington, DC 20250-0517.
    You may also send comments to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Copies of the information collection may 
be requested by contacting Joe Lewis at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Lewis, telephone, (202) 720-0795.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Measurement Service Records.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0260.
    Expiration Date: May 31, 2013.
    Type of Request: Revision.
    Abstract: When a producer requests a measurement of acreage or 
production from FSA, the producers use form FSA-409 (Measurement 
Service Record) to make the request, which requires a measurement fee 
to be paid to FSA. Currently, the Measurement Service (MS) process is 
entirely a manual process.
    The ``Modernize and Innovate the Delivery of Agricultural Systems'' 
(MIDAS) is FSA's initiative to improve the delivery of FSA farm program 
benefits and services through the re-engineering of farm program 
business processes and the adoption of enhanced and modernized 
information technology. The current format of FSA-409 was implemented 
prior to the MIDAS initiative and therefore needs to be updated in 
order to be compatible with MIDAS. FSA also wants to simplify the form 
so that producers will only see the fields needed for the specific MS. 
Through MIDAS, FSA is automating the MS process, and is also modifying 
how the FSA-409 will be used.
    FSA is not collecting any new information on the FSA-409. FSA is 
only changing the system such that it will print only what is needed 
based on the type of MS being performed. The types of MS being 
performed are currently Land (Office or Field) and Commodity Bin. The 
current form includes all of these. The proposed changes to the form 
divide the data fields required by MS type--either Land or Bin. This 
allows the new system to print only the necessary data fields.
    FSA has decided to separate the land and bin measurements into two 
forms. The FSA-409 L would show land measurement requests and results. 
The FSA-409 B would show bin measurement requests and results.
    In the request, the producer provides FSA: the farm serial number, 
program year, farm location, contact person, and type of service 
request (acreage or production). The measurement service procedure is 
done in accordance with 7 CFR part 718 and FSA Handbook 2-CP. FSA is 
using the collected information to fulfill producers' measurement 
request and to ensure that measurements are accurate.
    Producers will receive MS information from FSA and provide it to 
FSA at the time of applying for certain program benefits. The MS 
information includes, but is not limited to, measuring land and crop 
areas, quantities of farm-stored commodities, and appraising the yields 
of crops in the field.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: Public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average 15 minutes per 
response. The travel time, which is included in the total annual 
burden, is estimated to be 1 hour per respondent.
    Respondents: Producers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 135,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual of Responses: 135,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 168,750 hours.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection to help us:
    (1) Determine whether the continued collection of information is 
still necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Assess the accuracy of FSA's estimate of burden including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    (4) 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 comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record on 
regulation.gov. Comments will be summarized and included in the 
submission for OMB approval.

    Signed on July 20, 2012.
Juan M. Garcia,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2012-18648 Filed 7-30-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P