[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 94321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30897]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

December 19, 2016.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding (1) whether the 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 burden 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 through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by January 
23, 2017 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: 
Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New Executive Office 
Building, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20502. Commenters are 
encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: 
[email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-
8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Economic Research Service

    Title: Risk Preferences and Demand for Crop Insurance and Cover 
Crop Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0536-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: Federal crop insurance programs and soil 
conservation programs, including those that promote use of cover crops, 
can significantly alter the farm revenue risk profile for the farmers 
who adopt them. The Economic Research Service (ERS) currently models 
the demand for federal crop insurance and cover crop promotion programs 
as part of multiple research objectives. These economic models rely on 
traditional theories of farmer decision-making under risk, and over-
predict participation rates for all crop insurance and cover crop 
programs. This data collection will use an experiment with university 
students to test alternate theories of decision-making under risk. ERS 
will be using a laboratory experiment to (1) characterize the 
relationship between cover crop usage and crop insurance purchase, and 
(2) explore how this relationship depends on individuals risk 
preferences and demographic characteristics. Data collection for this 
project is authorized by the 7 U.S.C. 2204(a).
    Need and Use of the Information: The information to be collected 
under this proposed study is needed to provide evidence as to which 
theories best predict joint adoption of cover crop and crop insurance 
programs. This research will be exploratory in nature, and will be used 
to gain insights into specific economic behaviors regarding decision-
making under risk. This research will not be used to generate 
population estimates, and the results from the proposed study design 
are not intended to be generalizable outside of the study participants. 
Results from this experiment will be used to inform future experimental 
research studies for risk management decision-making with more 
representative samples.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 2,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 861.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-30897 Filed 12-22-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-18-P