[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 40 (Thursday, February 28, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6766-6767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-03499]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Reinstate an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS) to seek reinstatement of an information collection, the 
Census of Horticultural Specialties. Response to this survey will be 
mandatory.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 29, 2019 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0236, 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties, 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) 720-2707. 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: 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0236.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Reinstatement of an Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of 
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will request 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the 2019 
Census of Horticultural Specialties survey to be conducted as a follow-
on survey from the 2017 Census of Agriculture and is authorized by the 
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Title X--Horticulture and 
Organic Agriculture) as amended.
    The 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties will use as a sampling 
universe; every respondent on the 2017 Census of Agriculture who 
reported production and sales of $10,000 or more of horticultural 
specialty crops, and is still in business in 2019. In addition, NASS 
also plans to contact all new operations that have begun producing 
horticultural specialty products since the completion of the 2017 
Census of Agriculture. Data collection will begin around January 1, 
2020 for production and sales data for 2019. A final report will be 
published around December 2020. Data will be published at both the US 
and State levels where possible.
    Authority: The census of horticulture is required by law under the 
``Census of Agriculture Act of 1997,'' Public Law 105-113, 7 U.S.C. 
2204(g) as amended. These data will be collected under the 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, Public Law 104-13 (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. The law guarantees farm operators that their individual 
information will be kept confidential. NASS uses the information only 
for statistical purposes and publishes only tabulated total data. These 
data are used by Congress when developing or changing farm programs. 
Many national and state programs are designed or allocated based on 
census data, i.e., soil conservation projects, funds for

[[Page 6767]]

cooperative extension programs, and research funding. Private industry 
uses the data to provide more effective production and distribution 
decisions for the agricultural community.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 60 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Producers of horticultural specialty crops.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 41,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 52,000 hours. NASS 
plans to send out a pre-survey postcard informing the public of the 
upcoming survey. Along with the mail out of the questionnaires, NASS 
will include a cover letter with a short explanation of the need for 
this survey and the potential uses of the published data by data users. 
NASS will also provide respondents with an instruction sheet and 
directions on how to access the internet and complete the questionnaire 
on line. Operators who do not respond by mail or internet will be 
attempted by either phone or personal interview.
    The primary objectives of the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service are to prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop 
production, livestock production, economic statistics, and 
environmental statistics related to agriculture and to conduct the 
Census of Agriculture and it's follow on surveys.
    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.

    Signed at Washington, DC, February 12, 2019.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019-03499 Filed 2-27-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-20-P