[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 166 (Monday, August 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 51751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20950]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Information Collection Request; Farm Loan Programs, Direct Loan 
Making

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 an extension and a revision of a 
currently approved information collection that supports Direct Loan 
Making programs. The information collection is in support of 7 CFR part 
764, which sets forth the manner for a person may apply to FSA for 
Direct Loan Assistance. A new form is being added to this request to 
streamline the loan process.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by October 26, 2012.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your 
comments, include the date, volume, and page number of this issue of 
the Federal Register, the OMB control number and the title of the 
information collection. 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: Michael Moore, Senior Loan Officer, USDA, FSA, LMD, STOP 
0522, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-0522.
    Email: [email protected].
    Fax: (202) 720-6797
    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 Michael Moore at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Moore, Senior Loan Officer, 
Farm Service Agency (202) 690-0651. Persons with disabilities who 
require alternative mean for communication (Braille, large print, audio 
tape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at (202)720-2600 
(Voice and TDD).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Farm Loan Programs Direct Loan Making.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0237.
    Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2014.
    Type of Request: Revision and extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: FSA's Farm Loan Programs provide loans to family farmers 
to buy real estate and equipment, and finance agricultural production. 
Direct Loan Making, as specified in 7 CFR part 764, provides the 
requirements associated with direct loans. FSA is required to actively 
supervise its borrowers and provide credit counseling, management 
advice, and financial guidance. Additionally, FSA must document that 
credit is not available to the borrower from commercial credit sources 
in order to maintain eligibility for assistance. Direct loan making 
information collection requirements include financial and production 
records of the operation to ensure that cash flow projections are based 
on actual production history, a loan is adequately secured, the 
applicant meets established eligibility requirements, and assignments 
on income and sales can be obtained when appropriate.
    FSA is adding a new form to this information collection request. 
The new form is the FSA-2314 Streamlined Request for Direct OL 
Assistance. The new form is a streamlined version of a current form 
that will be used by some respondents. The burden hours have decreased 
due to lower number of responses by the current participants.
    Estimate of Respondent Burden: Public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average 48 minutes per 
response. The average travel time, which is included in the total 
burden, is estimated to be 1 hour per respondent.
    Respondents: Producers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 181,922.
    Estimated Annual Number of Forms per Person: 3.6.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 667,543.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 320,891.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection to help us to:
    (1) Determine whether the continued collection of information is 
still necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the FSA, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Assess the accuracy of the 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; and
    (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. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for the 
Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Signed on August 7, 2012.
Carolyn B. Cooksie,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2012-20950 Filed 8-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P