[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 118 (Thursday, June 19, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35148-35149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14350]


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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. 79, No. 118 / Thursday, June 19, 2014 / 
Notices  

[[Page 35148]]



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 Organic Survey. Revision to burden 
hours will be needed due to changes in the size of the target 
population, sample design, and questionnaire length.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 18, 2014 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0249, by any of the following methods:
     E-Mail: [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, 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: Organic Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0249.
    Expiration Date of Previous Approval: July 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 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.
    This is a resubmission of the Federal Register Notice to include 
several changes to the survey that were not included in the original 
notice. The original notice was published on March 17, 2014.
    In 2009, NASS conducted the 2008 Organic Production Survey (OMB 
0535-0249). This was originally designed to be conducted once 
every five years as a mandatory, follow-on-survey to the 2007 Census of 
Agriculture. In 2011 when the docket was renewed it was changed to 
accommodate a formal agreement with the USDA Risk Management Agency 
(RMA). The survey was changed to a voluntary survey that was to be 
conducted annually if funding permitted and it would allow for a 
rotation of target crops each year. With the completion of the 2012 
Census of Agriculture the scope of the questionnaire is being expanded 
to include the questions that are needed by the 5 year census data 
series.
    The name of this docket will be changed to Organic Survey. The data 
reference year will be 2014 and data will be collected in 2015.
    The census-based survey will include all known farm operators who 
produce organically certified crops and/or livestock, farm operators 
exempt from certification (those who produce less than $5,000 in sales 
per year), and farmers who are in the process of transitioning over to 
being organic farmers. The survey will be conducted in all States. Some 
operational level data will be collected to use in classifying each 
operation for summary purposes. The majority of the questions will 
involve production data (acres planted, acres harvested, quantity 
harvested, quantity sold, value of sale, etc.), production expenses, 
and marketing practices.
    Approximately 14,000 operations will be contacted by mail in early 
January, with a second mailing later in the month to non-respondents. 
Respondents will be able to complete the questionnaire by use of the 
internet if they so choose. Telephone and personal enumeration will be 
used for remaining non-response follow up. The National Agricultural 
Statistics Service will publish summaries in October at both the State 
level and for each major organic commodity when possible. Some State 
level data may need to be published on regional or national level due 
to confidentiality rules.
    Under the 2014 Farm Bill (Section 11023) some of the duties of the 
Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) are defined as ``(i) IN 
GENERAL-- As soon as possible, but not later than the 2015 reinsurance 
year, the Corporation shall offer producers of organic crops price 
elections for all organic crops produced in compliance with standards 
issued by the Department of Agriculture under the national organic 
program established under the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) that reflect the actual retail or wholesale 
prices, as appropriate, received by producers for organic crops, as 
determined by the Secretary using all relevant sources of information. 
``(ii) ANNUAL REPORT.-- The Corporation shall submit to the Committee 
on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate an annual report on 
progress made in developing and improving Federal crop insurance for 
organic crops, including--``(I) the numbers and varieties of organic 
crops insured; ``(II) the progress of implementing the price elections 
required under this subparagraph, including the rate at which 
additional price elections are adopted for organic crops; ``(III) the 
development of new insurance approaches relevant to organic producers; 
and ``(IV) any recommendations the Corporation considers appropriate to 
improve

[[Page 35149]]

Federal crop insurance coverage for organic crops''.

    Authority:  This census of organic farmers is required by law 
under the ``Census of Agriculture Act of 1997,'' Public Law No. 105-
113, 7 U.S.C. 2204(g) as amended. 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, Public Law 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 is estimated to average 45 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farmers and Ranchers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 14,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 11,000 hours (based 
on an estimated 80% response rate, using 2 mail attempts, followed by 
phone and personal enumeration for non-respondents).
    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, including 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, June 4, 2014.
Joseph T. Reilly,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-14350 Filed 6-18-14; 8:45 am]
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