[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 166 (Monday, August 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51748-51749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21002]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 166 / Monday, August 27, 2012 / 
Notices  

[[Page 51748]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 22, 2012.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) Whether the 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 burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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 should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office Building, 
Washington, DC; [email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and 
to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, 
Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information 
collections are best assured of having their full effect if received 
within 30 days of publication of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8681.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Agricultural Resource Management, Chemical Use, and Post-
harvest Chemical Use Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0218.
    Summary of Collection: The primary objectives of the National 
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) are to provide the public with 
timely and reliable agricultural production and economic statistics, as 
well as environmental and specialty agricultural related statistics. 
Three surveys--the Agricultural Resource Management Study, the Fruit 
and Vegetable Chemical Use Surveys, and the Post-harvest Chemical Use 
Survey--are critical to NASS' ability to fulfill these objectives and 
to build the congressionally mandated database on agricultural chemical 
use and related farm practices. NASS uses a variety of survey 
instruments to collect the information in conjunction with these 
studies.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Agricultural Resource 
Management Study provides a robust data base of information to address 
varied needs of policy makers. There are many uses for the information 
from this study including an evaluation of the safety of the Nation's 
food supply; input to the farm sector portion of the gross domestic 
product; and to provide a barometer on the financial condition of farm 
businesses. Data from the Fruit and Vegetable Chemical Use Surveys is 
used to assess the environmental and economic implications of various 
program and policies and the impact on agricultural producers and 
consumers. The results of the Post-harvest Chemical Use Survey are used 
by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop Food Quality 
Protection Act risk assessments. Other organizations use this data to 
make sound regulatory decisions.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 120,633.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 70,840.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Egg, Chicken, and Turkey Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0004.
    Summary of Collection: The primary function of the National 
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue current 
official State and national estimates of crop and livestock production. 
Thousands of farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and others voluntarily 
respond to nationwide surveys about crops, livestock, prices, and other 
agricultural activities. Estimates of egg, chicken, and turkey 
production are in an integral part of this program. General authority 
for these data collection activities is granted under U.S. Code Title 
7, Section 2204. This statue specifies the ``The Secretary of 
Agriculture shall procure and preserve all information concerning 
agriculture which she can obtain * * * by the collection of statistics 
* * * and shall distribute them among agriculturists''. Information 
published from the surveys in this docket is needed by USDA economists 
and government policy makers to ensure the orderly marketing of 
broilers, turkeys and eggs.
    Need and Use of the Information: Statistics on these poultry 
products contribute to a comprehensive program of keeping the 
government and poultry industry abreast of anticipated changes. All of 
the poultry reports are used by producers, processors, feed dealers, 
and others in the marketing and supply channels as a basis for their 
production and marketing decisions.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for profit.
    Number of Respondents: 2,855.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Weekly; Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,675.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Floriculture Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0093.
    Summary of Collection: The primary function of the National 
Agricultural Statistics (NASS) is to prepare current official state and 
national estimates of crop and livestock production. Since 1985 
Congress has provided funds to conduct an annual Commercial 
Floriculture Survey which obtains data on this important and growing 
industry. General authority for these data collection activities is 
granted under U.S. Code Title 7, Section 2204. This statute specifies 
that ``The Secretary of Agriculture shall procure and preserve all 
information concerning agriculture which can be obtain by the 
collection of

[[Page 51749]]

statistics * * * and shall distribute them among agriculturists''. The 
floriculture industry accounted for more than $8.6 billion in 
agricultural cash receipts at the U.S. level.
    Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information to 
assess alternative agriculture opportunities. Data from the survey will 
provide statistics for Federal and State agencies to monitor the use of 
agricultural chemicals. If the information is not collected data users 
could not keep abreast of changes.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other-for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 9,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 4,464.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Mink Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0212.
    Summary of Collection: The primary function of the National 
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue current 
official State and national estimates of crop and livestock production. 
Statistics on mink production are published for the 15 major states 
that account for 95 percent of the U.S. production. There is no other 
source for this type of information. General authority for these data 
collection activities is granted under U.S. Code Title 7, Section 2204.
    Need and Use of the Information: NASS collects information on mink 
pelts produced by color, number of females bred to produce kits the 
following year, number of mink farms, average marketing price, and the 
value of pelts produced. The data is disseminated by NASS in the Mink 
Report and is used by the U.S. government and other groups.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 350.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 89.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-21002 Filed 8-24-12; 8:45 am]
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