[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58524-58525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25253]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


Information Collection Request; Measurement Service (MS) Records

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Farm Service Agency (FSA) is requesting comments from all interested 
individuals and organizations on a revision and an extension of a 
currently approved information collection associated with the MS 
Records.

DATES: We will consider comments that we receive by January 22, 2019.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. In your 
comments, include date, volume and page number, the OMB Control Number, 
and the title of the information collection of this issue of the 
Federal Register. You may submit comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Clay Lagasse, Common Provisions Section, Production 
Emergencies and Compliance Division, USDA, FSA, Farm Programs 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 0517, Washington, DC 20250-0517.
    You may also send comments to the Desk Officer for Agriculture, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Copies of the information collection may 
be requested by contacting Clay Lagasse at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Clay Lagasse, (202) 205-9893. Persons with disabilities who require 
alternative means for communication should contact the USDA Target 
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice).

[[Page 58525]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Measurement Service (MS) Records.
    OMB Control Number: 0560-0260.
    Expiration Date: 03/31/2019.
    Type of Request: Revision.
    Abstract: When a producer requests a measurement of acreage or 
production from FSA, the producer uses the form FSA-409 (Measurement 
Service (MS) Record) to make the request, which requires that the 
producer pays a measurement fee to FSA.
    The form is manual. The types of MS being performed are currently 
at the Land (Office or Field) and Commodity Bin. Using the FSA-409 to 
make a request, the producer provides FSA: The farm serial number, 
program year, farm location, contact person, and type of service 
request (acreage or production). The MS procedure is done in accordance 
with 7 CFR part 718. FSA is using the collected information to fulfill 
producers' measurement request and to ensure that measurements are 
accurate.
    A producer will use the FSA-409 to request and receive certain MS 
information from FSA and provide it to FSA at the time of applying for 
certain program benefits. The MS information includes, but is not 
limited to, measuring land and crop areas, quantities of farm-stored 
commodities, and appraising the yields of crops in the field. There is 
a reduction of the burden hours by 135,000 because travel time was 
removed from the information collection. The respondents go to the 
county offices to do regular and customary business with FSA; 
therefore; the travel time is not required to be included in the burden 
hours in this request.
    For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the 
formula used to calculate the total burden hour is the estimated 
average time per responses hours multiplied by the estimated total 
annual responses.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: Public reporting burden for the 
collection of information is estimated to average 15 minutes per 
response.
    Type of Respondents: Producers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 135,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual of Responses: 135,000.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 33,750 hours.
    We are requesting comments on all aspects of this information 
collection to help us:
    (1) Evaluate 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;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the collection of information including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used;
    (3) Evaluate the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
technology; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the information collection on those who 
respond through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses where provided, will be made a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the request for OMB 
approval of the information collection.

Richard Fordyce,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2018-25253 Filed 11-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-05-P