[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 206 (Monday, October 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65195-65196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27139]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Request To Conduct a New 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 seek approval to conduct a new information collection 
to gather data related to the production and marketing of foods 
directly from farm producers to consumers or retailers. In addition 
NASS will collect some whole-farm data to be used to classify and group 
operations for summarizing and publication of results.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 28, 2015 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
NEW, by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include docket number 
above in the subject line of the message.
     E-fax: (855) 838-6382.
     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,

[[Page 65196]]

1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: R. Renee Picanso, Associate 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, (202) 720-2707. Copies of this information 
collection and related instructions can be obtained without charge from 
David Hancock, NASS--OMB Clearance Officer, at (202) 690-2388 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Local Foods Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535--NEW.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to conduct a new 
information collection for a period of three years.
    Abstract: Interest is growing in support of local agricultural 
economies through the purchase of foods from sources that are 
geographically close to the consuming areas, via channels that are 
direct from farm to consumer or at most one step removed. Significant 
policy support for local food systems occurred with the institution of 
the USDA Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative (KYF2) in 
September 2009. The KYF2 Initiative was designed to eliminate 
organizational barriers to improve coordination and availability of 
resources for the promotion of local food systems. This initiative is 
in response to the perceived consumer and producer interests. Many 
community and farm advocacy groups are requesting changes in the next 
major agricultural program legislation (the Farm Bill) that will 
directly target local foods producers, consumers, and markets. Despite 
the emphasis of policy makers, there are currently no available data 
sources that provide representative and reliable national estimates of 
local food production.
    As a direct response to this interest in local foods, NASS included 
a question in the 2012 Census of Agriculture to capture data needed to 
benchmark the size of the intermediated local foods market. Contingent 
upon the availability of funding, the Local Foods Survey will be a 
Census follow-on survey. As a follow-on survey, it will be sampled from 
respondents to the 2012 Census of Agriculture who reported product 
sales directly to consumers or to retail outlets that in turn sell 
directly to consumers. Response to this survey will be voluntary.
    Authority: The 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 50 minutes per response. NASS plans 
to mail out publicity materials with the questionnaires to inform 
producers of the importance of this survey. NASS will also use multiple 
mailings, followed up with phone and limited personal enumeration to 
increase response rates and to minimize data collection costs.
    Respondents: Farmers and Ranchers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 28,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 21,000 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, October 16, 2015.
R. Renee Picanso,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-27139 Filed 10-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-20-P