[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24556-24557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09612]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Document No. AMS-TM-16-0030]


Transportation and Marketing Program; Notice of Extension and 
Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection and 
To Merge the Collections of 0581-0235 Farmers Market Promotion Program, 
0581-0240 Federal-State Market Improvement Program, 0581-0248 Specialty 
Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill, Specialty Crop Multi-State Program, 
and 0581-0287 Local Food Promotion Program

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501-20), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing 
Service's (AMS) intention to request Office of Management and Budget 
approval of a revised information collection that combined four 
previously approved collections into a single information collection. 
AMS recently consolidated its grant programs into one Grants Division. 
Due to this consolidation, AMS intends to combine the following 
collections, 0581-0235 ``Farmers Market Promotion Program,'' 0581-0240 
``Federal-State Market Improvement Program,'' 0581-0248 ``Specialty 
Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill,'' ``Specialty Crop Multi-State 
Program,'' and 0581-0287 ``Local Food Promotion Program.'' This revised 
collection will be retitled 0581-0240 ``AMS Grant Programs,'' and 
increase efficiency among programs and reduce the burden on the public.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 27, 2016 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: AMS Transportation and Marketing Program, 1400 Independence 
Avenue SW., Stop 0264, Washington, DC 20250-0264.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Trista Etzig, Grants Division 
Director; Telephone: (202) 720-8356; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: AMS Grant Programs.
    OMB Number: 0581-0240.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 9/30/2016.
    Type of Request: Extension, revision, and consolidation of 
currently approved information collection.
    Abstract: AMS grant programs (Farmers' Market and Local Food 
Promotion Program (FMLFPP), Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), 
Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP), and Federal-State Marketing 
Improvement Program (FSMIP)) are authorized pursuant to the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA) (7 U.S.C. 1621, et seq.) and 
the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 (FCDMA) (7 U.S.C. 
3001) and are implemented through the Uniform Administrative 
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal 
Awards (Super Circular) (2 CFR 200). Recently, AMS consolidated the 
management of its grant programs into one Grants Division to streamline 
and standardize processes and procedures for the programs, which 
includes the need to consolidate the information collection 
requirements for each grant program.
    The Farmers' Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and Local Food 
Promotion Program (LFPP) are components of the ``Farmers' Market and 
Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP).'' FMPP was created through an 
amendment of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 (7 
U.S.C. 3001-3006). The Agriculture Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-79) (2014 
Farm Bill) further amended the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act 
of 1976 (7 U.S.C. 3005) by expanding and renaming the FMPP to FMLFPP. 
For fiscal years 2014-2018, the 2014 Farm Bill provides $30 million in 
funding for the FMLFPP. On an annual basis, approximately $15 million 
will be made available for farmer-to-consumer direct marketing projects 
under the FMPP component of FMLFPP, and approximately $15 million will 
be made available for local and regional food business enterprise 
projects under the LFPP component of FMLFPP. The grants authorized by 
the FMPP are targeted to help improve and expand domestic farmers' 
markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, 
agritourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer marketing 
opportunities. The grants authorized under the LFPP support the 
development and expansion of local and regional food business 
enterprises to increase domestic consumption of, and access to, locally 
and regionally produced agricultural products, and to develop new 
market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local 
markets.
    The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) operates pursuant to 
the authority of Section 101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act 
of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note); amended by Section 10010 of the 
Agriculture Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill). Pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 1621 
note, the Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to ``make grants 
to States for each of the fiscal years 2014 through 2018 to be used by 
State departments of agriculture solely to enhance the competitiveness 
of specialty crops.'' The SCBGP works to increase the competitiveness 
of specialty crops. The 2014 Farm Bill made mandatory outlays for 
fiscal years 2014 through 2017 in the amount of $72.5 million, and $85 
million in 2018. The Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP) also 
operates pursuant to the authority of Section 101 of the Specialty 
Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note); amended by 
Section 10010 of the Agriculture Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill). The 
Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act provides the Secretary authority to 
make available funds for ``making grants to multistate projects.'' The 
2014 Farm Bill made outlays available for fiscal years 2014 through 
2018 in the amount of $1 million for the first year, and increasing by 
$1 million for each subsequent year so that $5 million will be 
available in 2018.
    The Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) operates 
pursuant to the authority of the AMA. Section 204(b) of the AMA (7 
U.S.C. 1623(b)) authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make 
available funds to State Departments of Agriculture, State bureaus and 
departments of markets, State agricultural experiment stations, and 
other appropriate State agencies for cooperative projects in marketing 
services and in marketing research to

[[Page 24557]]

effectuate the purposes of title II of the Agricultural Marketing Act 
of 1946. FSMIP provides matching funds on a competitive basis to assist 
eligible entities in exploring new market opportunities for U.S. food 
and agricultural products and to encourage research and innovation 
aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the marketing 
system. AMS has been allocated approximately $1 million in fiscal years 
2013, 2014, and 2015 for FSMIP; and it is anticipated that funding will 
remain at or near this level for fiscal years 2016 and 2017.
    Because these are all voluntary programs, respondents request or 
apply for the specific grant program they select, and in doing so, they 
provide information. The Agency is the primary user of the information. 
The information collected is needed to certify that grant participants 
are complying with applicable program regulations, and the data 
collected is the minimum information necessary to effectively carry out 
the requirements of the program. The information collection 
requirements in this request are essential to carry out the intent of 
the AMA, to provide the respondents the type of service they request, 
and to administer the programs. The burden of the AMS Grant Programs is 
as follows:

Combined Burden for AMS Grant Programs

    Estimate of Burden: 2.59.
    Respondents: Agricultural Cooperatives, Agriculture Business 
Entities; Community Supported Agriculture Networks or Associations; 
Producer Networks or Associations; Local and Tribal Governments; 
Nonprofit Corporations; Public Benefit Corporations; Economic 
Development Corporations; Regional Farmers' Market Authorities; State 
departments of agriculture; State agricultural experiment stations; and 
other appropriate State Agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,866.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 20,230.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 10.84.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 52,413.11.

0581-0235: Farmers' Market Promotion Program

    Estimate of Burden: 2.73.
    Respondents: Agricultural Cooperatives, Producer Networks, or 
Producer Associations; Local Governments; Nonprofit Corporations; 
Public Benefit Corporations; Economic Development Corporations; 
Regional Farmers' Market Authorities; and Tribal Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 750.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 7,470.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 9.96.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 20,391.27.

0581-0240: Federal-State Market Improvement Program

    Estimate of Burden: 2.29.
    Respondents: State departments of agriculture; State agricultural 
experiment stations; and other appropriate State Agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 70.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,018.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 14.54.
    Estimated Total Annual on Respondents: 2,328.01.

0581-0248: Specialty Crop Block Grant Program-Farm Bill

    Estimate of Burden: 3.30.
    Respondents: State departments of agriculture.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 56.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 616.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 11.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,030.

Specialty Crop Multi-State Program-New Segment of SCBGP

    Estimate of Burden: 2.24.
    Respondents: State departments of agriculture.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 240.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 2,906.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 12.11.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,522.56.

0581-0287: Local Food Promotion Program

    Estimate of Burden: 2.57.
    Respondents: Agricultural Cooperatives, Agriculture Business 
Entities; Community Supported Agriculture Networks or Associations; 
Producer Networks or Associations; Local and Tribal Governments; 
Nonprofit Corporations; Public Benefit Corporations; Economic 
Development Corporations; and Regional Farmers' Market Authorities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 750.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 8,220.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 10.96.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 21,141.27.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the new collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
new collection of information including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on those who are to 
respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: April 20, 2016.
Elanor Starmer,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-09612 Filed 4-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P