[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 160 (Tuesday, August 19, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49048-49050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19679]


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

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.

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

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. Response to this 
survey will be mandatory.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 20, 2014 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0249, 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,

[[Page 49049]]

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). Specifically, 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, NASS proposes to expand the scope of the 
Organic Production Survey questionnaire to include questions that are 
needed for the 5-year Census of Agriculture data series using funding 
provided through the Census of Agriculture program. Accordingly, NASS 
proposes to restore mandatory reporting to the Organic Survey. The name 
of this docket will be changed to Organic Survey. This survey will only 
be conducted once under this approval; the data reference year will be 
2014, and data will be collected in 2015.
    The sample will consist of all farm operators from the 2012 Census 
of Agriculture who reported they produce organically certified crops 
and/or livestock, were exempt from certification (i.e., they produce 
less than $5,000 in sales per year), and those who were in the process 
of transitioning over to being organic farmers. The survey will be 
conducted in all States. Some operation 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, livestock produced and 
sold, value of sale, etc.), production expenses, and marketing and 
production practices.
    Approximately 14,000 operations will be contacted by mail in early 
January 2015, 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 2015 at both the State level and for each major organic 
commodity when possible. Due to confidentiality rules, some State level 
data may be combined and published at the regional or national level to 
prevent disclosure of individual operation's data. This collection of 
data will support requirements within the Agricultural Act of 2014. 
Under 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 
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 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

[[Page 49050]]

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, August 11, 2014.
R. Renee Picanso,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-19679 Filed 8-18-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P