[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 16 (Friday, January 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4270-4271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01159]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Request Revision and Extension of a Currently 
Approved 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 request revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection, the Agricultural Surveys Program. 
Revision to burden hours will be needed due to changes in the size of 
the target population, sampling design, and/or questionnaire length.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 24, 2020 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:  Email: [email protected]. Include the docket 
number above in the subject line of the message.
     Efax: (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: Agricultural Surveys Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0213.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2020.
    Type of Request: To revise and extend a currently approved 
information collection 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, farm numbers, land values, 
on-farm pesticide usage, pest crop management practices, as well as the 
Census of Agriculture. The Agricultural Surveys Program contains a 
series of surveys that obtains basic agricultural data from farmers, 
ranchers, and feedlots throughout the Nation for preparing agricultural 
estimates and forecasts of crop acreage, yield, and production; stocks 
of grains and soybeans; hog and pig numbers; sheep inventory and lamb 
crop; cattle inventory; cattle on feed; grazing fees; and land values. 
Uses of the statistical information collected by these surveys are 
extensive and varied. Producers, farm organizations, agribusinesses, 
commodity exchanges, State and national farm policy makers, and 
government agencies are important users of these statistics. 
Agricultural statistics are used to plan and administer other related 
Federal and State programs in such areas as consumer protection, 
conservation, foreign trade, education, and recreation.
    In December 2019, OMB approved a non-substantive change request to 
modify the Agricultural Land Value survey and the June Area Survey to 
make the land value questions easier for the respondents to complete. 
In the next three year cycle the only significant change being proposed 
to the surveys included in this docket will be in 2021 where NASS plans 
to add additional questions to the January Sheep and Goat Survey, and 
the Cattle Report to include questions regarding predator loss issues. 
These additional questions are being included under a cooperative 
agreement between NASS and the USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS).
    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.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information will range from 5 to 30 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Farmers, Ranchers and Feed Lots.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 510,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 175,000 hours.
    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;

[[Page 4271]]

(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, January 08, 2020.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-01159 Filed 1-23-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-20-P