[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56798-56799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24775]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 83 , No. 220 / Wednesday, November 14, 2018 / 
Notices  

[[Page 56798]]



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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 rates paid for custom agricultural work done 
on farms. This clearance will allow NASS to conduct surveys in a timely 
manner for the cooperating institutions who provide funding for these 
surveys.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 14, 2019 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, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin L. Barnes, Associate 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 202-720-4333. 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: Custom Rates Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-NEW.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to conduct a group of new 
information collections for a period of three years.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) is to collect, 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 Custom Rates program will collect information from farmers who have 
knowledge of rates for custom agricultural services (custom rates) 
during a specified reference period. These services include land 
tillage, application of fertilizers and chemicals, planting, 
harvesting, hauling, various livestock tasks, and many more tasks. The 
program will provide farm operators with rates for different custom 
services in their state and/or local area. All questionnaires included 
in this information collection will be voluntary. These surveys will be 
conducted through cooperative agreements with State Departments of 
Agriculture and/or universities; with the cooperators providing the 
funding. The time between funding being secured and the desired start 
of data collection is often too short to allow for a separate OMB 
approval for each survey. With this approval NASS will be able to 
provide services in a timelier manner.
    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, 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 information 
collection is based on similar surveys with expected response time of 
20 minutes. The estimated sample size will be approximately 40,000. The 
frequency of data collection for each survey is annual. The estimated 
number of responses per respondent is 1. Publicity materials and 
instruction sheets will account for approximately 5 minutes of 
additional burden per respondent. Respondents who refuse to complete a 
survey will be allotted 2 minutes of burden per attempt to collect the 
data. NASS will conduct the survey initially by mail with phone follow-
up for non-response.
    Respondents: Farmers who have a knowledge of rates for custom 
services.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Approximately 40,000 annually.
    Frequency of Responses: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: Approximately 14,500 hours 
annually. This will include burden for both the initial mailing and 
phone follow-up to non-respondents, as well as publicity and 
instruction materials mailed out with questionnaires.
    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.


[[Page 56799]]


    Signed at Washington, DC, October 23, 2018.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-24775 Filed 11-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-20-P