[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70991-70992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28834]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

November 21, 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), [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 this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
    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

[[Page 70992]]

displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Economic Research Service

    Title: Farm to School Census.
    OMB Control Number: 0536--NEW.
    Summary of Collection: Section 243 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids 
Act (HHFKA) of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-296) directed USDA to establish a Farm 
to School program in order to assist eligible entities through grants 
and technical assistance, in implementing farm to school programs that 
improve the access to local foods in eligible schools. Under 7 U.S.C. 
427, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed to conduct 
and to stimulate research into the laws and principles underlying the 
basic problems of agriculture in its broadest aspects, including but 
limited to research relating to the improvement of the quality of, and 
the development of new and improved methods of the production, 
marketing, distribution, processing, and utilization of plant and 
animal commodities at all stages from the original producer through the 
ultimate consumer. The Farm to School Census is a new, one-time, data 
collection. A questionnaire on purchases of local foods and other farm 
to school related activities will be sent to public school district 
School Food Authorities (SFA) in the 50 United States and the District 
of Columbia.
    Need and Use of the Information: USDA's Farm to School Program will 
use data from the Farm to School Census to develop a baseline 
assessment of farm to school programs and to set priorities for USDA 
outreach and technical support, as mandated by the HHFKA. The Farm to 
School Census will also be used to establish a baseline measure of 
local food purchases in schools and set priorities for USDA programming 
related to local school food sourcing. The Farm to School Census data 
will be used in mapping SFAs that procured local foods for school meal 
programs in 2011-12 in order to characterize the geographic 
distribution farm to school programs and obtain State-level estimates 
of the prevalence of local procurement among SFAs.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 13,680.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,901.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-28834 Filed 11-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-18-P