[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63960-63961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25189]


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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 Agricultural Surveys Program. 
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 December 24, 2013 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0213, by any of the following methods:
     Email: [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 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, (202) 720-4333. Copies of this information 
collection and related instructions can be obtained without charge from 
David Hancock, NASS Clearance Officer, at (202) 690-2388.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Agricultural Surveys Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0213.

[[Page 63961]]

    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2014.
    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 collect, 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. The Agricultural Surveys Program contains a 
series of surveys that obtains basic agricultural data from farmers, 
ranchers, and feedlots throughout the Nation for preparing agricultural 
estimates and forecasts of crop acreage, yield, and production; stocks 
of grains and soybeans; hog and pig numbers; sheep inventory and lamb 
crop; cattle inventory; cattle on feed; grazing fees; and land values. 
Uses of the statistical information collected by these surveys are 
extensive and varied. Producers, farm organizations, agribusinesses, 
commodity exchanges, State and national farm policy makers, and 
government agencies are important users of these statistics. 
Agricultural statistics are used to plan and administer other related 
Federal and State programs in such areas as consumer protection, 
conservation, foreign trade, education, and recreation.

    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, Pub. L. 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 will range from 5 to 20 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farmers, Ranchers and Feed Lots.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 530,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 200,000 hours.
    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, 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, September 26, 2013.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-25189 Filed 10-24-13; 8:45 am]
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