[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 9, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21506-21507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09389]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

May 4, 2017.
    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; (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 June 8, 
2017 will be considered. Written comments should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and

[[Page 21507]]

Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New 
Executive Office Building, 725--17th Street NW., Washington, DC, 20503. 
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-
8681.
    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.

National Agriculture Statistics Service

    Title: Agricultural Surveys Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0213.
    Summary of Collection: National Agriculture Statistics Service 
(NASS) primary functions are to prepare and issue state and national 
estimates of crop and livestock production and collect information on 
related environmental and economic factors. The Agricultural Surveys 
Program is a series of surveys that contains basic agricultural data 
from farmers and ranchers throughout the Nation for preparing 
agricultural estimates and forecasts. The surveys results provide the 
foundation for setting livestock and poultry inventory numbers. 
Estimates derived from the surveys supply information needed by farmers 
to make decisions for both short and long-term planning. The General 
authority for these data collection is granted under U.S. Code Title 7, 
Section 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 
confidentially to non-aggregated data provided by respondents.
    Need and Use of the Information: The surveys provide the basis for 
estimates of the current season's crop and livestock production and 
supplies of grain in storage. Crop and livestock statistics help 
develop a stable economic atmosphere and reduce risk for production, 
marketing, and distribution operations. These commodities affect the 
well being of the nation's farmers, commodities markets, and national 
and global agricultural policy. Users of agricultural statistics are 
farm organizations, agribusiness, state and national farm policy 
makers, and foreign buyers of agricultural products but the primary 
user of the statistical information is the producer. Agricultural 
statistics are also used to plan and administer other related federal 
and state programs in such areas as school lunch program, conservation, 
foreign trade, education, and recreation. Collecting the information 
less frequent would eliminate needed data to keep the government and 
agricultural industry abreast of changes at the state and national 
levels.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 512,500.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly; Semi-annually; 
Monthly; Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 168,342.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-09389 Filed 5-8-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P