[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 75049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30448]


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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 the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS) to request revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection, the Agricultural Prices Surveys. 
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 February 1, 2016 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0003, 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, 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: Agricultural Prices.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0003.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2016.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Revise and Extend an 
Information Collection for 3 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, environmental statistics related to 
agriculture and also to conduct the Census of Agriculture.
    The Agricultural Prices surveys provide data on the prices received 
by farmers and prices paid by them for production goods and services. 
NASS estimates based on these surveys are used as a Principle Economic 
Indicator of the United States. These price estimates are also used to 
compute Parity Prices in accordance with requirements of the 
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 as amended (Title III, Subtitle A, 
Section 301(a)). In addition, price data are used by the Federal Crop 
Insurance Corporation to help determine payment rates, program option 
levels, and disaster programs.

    Authority: These data will be collected under 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. 104-113) 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 information 
collection is based on more than 30 individual surveys with expected 
responses of 5-20 minutes and frequency of 1-12 times per year. 
Estimated number of responses per respondent is approximately 2.6 times 
per year.
    Respondents: Farmers and farm-related businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 75,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 33,000 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from David Hancock, NASS Clearance Officer, 
at (202) 690-2388.
    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 will be summarized in the request for OMB approval.

    Signed at Washington, DC, November 20, 2015.
R. Renee Picanso,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-30448 Filed 11-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P