[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60614-60615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25425]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Information Collection; Direct Loan Making

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 
the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all 
interested individuals and organizations on a revision and an extension 
of a currently approved information collection that supports 7 CFR part 
764. The Direct Loan Making regulations specify the application process 
and requirements for direct loan assistance. FSA is adding additional 
information collection to the existing collection to reflect the 
addition of the Direct Farm Ownership Microloan (DFOML). The collected 
information is used in eligibility and feasibility determinations on 
farm loan applications.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by December 7, 2015.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your 
comments, include date, volume, and page number of this issue of the 
Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Russ Clanton, Branch Chief, Direct Loan Making and 
Funds Management, USDA/FSA/FLP, STOP 0523, 1400 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-0503.
    You may also send comments to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Copies of the information collection may 
be requested by contacting Russ Clanton at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Russ Clanton, (202) 690-0214.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Farm Loan Programs, Direct Loan Making.
    OMB Number: 0560-0237.
    Expiration Date: 02/29/2016.
    Type of Request: Revision and Extension.
    Abstract: FSA's Farm Loan Programs provide loans to family farmers 
to purchase real estate and equipment, and to finance agricultural 
production. Direct Loan Making regulations at 7 CFR part 764 provide 
the requirements and process for determining an applicant's eligibility 
for a direct loan.
    Several changes are being made in the estimates for the burden 
hours and the number of respondents in anticipation of the new DFOML, 
which will be implemented through rulemaking. FSA anticipates an 
increase in the use of the forms. Also, the burden hours have changed 
due to the removal of the existing collection, which was previously 
included in error. The specific changes are explained below.
    There will be no new or revised forms for DFOMLs. With the planned 
addition of the DFOML and the new applicants expected to apply for 
these real estate microloans, FSA anticipates the total burden hours 
for Direct Loan Making increasing by 1,725 hours. The anticipated 3,530 
burden hours for DFOML takes into account the number of regular FO 
applications normally received for loan requests of $50,000 or less, 
which have a reduced application process and paperwork burden. The 
hours for the Land Contract Guarantee

[[Page 60615]]

Program and Emergency Equine Loss Loan Program, previously merged into 
the Direct Loan Making total burden hours, have been removed from the 
collection as they are already accounted for in other existing 
information collections. Also, the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program 
is exempted from PRA as specified in 2014 Farm Bill; therefore, those 
numbers are no longer included in the collection.
    The annual number of responses decreased by 12,751, while the 
number of respondents increases by 172 in the collection. The annual 
burden hours increase by 1,725 hours in the collection.
    The formula used to calculate the total burden hour is estimated 
average time per response in hours times total annual responses.
    Estimate of Respondent Burden: Public reporting burden for the 
information collection is estimated to average 0.503851 hours per 
response. The average travel time, which is included in the total 
burden, is estimated to be 1 hour.
    Respondents: Individuals or households, businesses or other for 
profit farms.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 182,433.
    Estimated Number of Reponses per Respondent: 3.8.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 685,686.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 0.503851 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 345,484 hours.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection to help us to:
    (1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of FSA, including whether the 
information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of FSA's estimate of burden including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    (4) 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.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office 
of Management and Budget approval.

 Val Dolcini,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2015-25425 Filed 10-6-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-05-P