[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 201 (Friday, October 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65788-65789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22924]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 201 / Friday, October 16, 2020 / 
Notices  

[[Page 65788]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[AMS-SC-20-0071; SC20-990-1-N]


Domestic Hemp Production Program, Request for Approval of a New 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) invites public comments about our 
intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for 
a new information collection to collect data on hemp production through 
a producer survey. This survey is necessary to identify data in the 
emerging hemp industry and for administering the domestic hemp program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 15, 2020 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice. Comments must be sent to Marketing Order and 
Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; Fax: 
(202) 720-8938; or internet: www.regulations.gov. Comments should 
reference the docket number and the date and page number of this issue 
of the Federal Register and will be available for public inspection in 
the Office of the Docket Clerk during regular business hours or can be 
viewed at: www.regulations.gov. All comments submitted in response to 
this notice will be included in the record and will be made available 
to the public. Please be advised that the identity of individuals or 
entities submitting the comments will be made public on the internet at 
the address provided above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Richmond, Chief, Domestic Hemp 
Program Branch, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops 
Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Room 1406, 
Washington, DC 20250-0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-
8938, or Email: [email protected].
    Small businesses may request information on complying with this 
regulation by contacting Richard Lower, Assistant to the Director, 
Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, 
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-
0237; Telephone: (202) 720-2491, Fax: (202) 720-8938, or Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Survey of Hemp Producers and Production Trends.
    OMB Number: 0581-NEW.
    Type of Request: New Information Collection.
    Abstract: AMS proposes to conduct a survey to collect information 
from U.S. hemp producers on current production costs, production 
practices, and marketing practices. This voluntary questionnaire is 
organized into four general sections.
    AMS has partnered with the University of Kentucky to develop and 
administer this hemp survey. The data obtained from the survey will be 
used for forecasting hemp activity and to develop a representative 
understanding of hemp production practices and costs at national, 
regional, and state levels. Once the survey has been administered and 
the results collected, the University of Kentucky will summarize the 
raw data from the survey into a comprehensive report for AMS.
    The survey will be administered through the National Association of 
State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) using each state department of 
agriculture. Respondents can participate in the survey online or by 
completing the paper version. The survey will also be administered to 
Tribes that have approved hemp production programs, in order to get 
input from tribal hemp production. USDA estimates the number of 
producers that will complete this survey to be approximately 18,000. 
This figure was derived from 2019 growing season data provided to USDA 
by Vote Hemp, a National hemp advocacy organization, along with data 
from certain State Departments of Agriculture.
    The first section of the survey, General Hemp Experience, requests 
data on production location, licensed acreage, planted acreage, and 
harvested acreage by end-use. Collecting this information is necessary 
to develop an understanding of the industry across the country.
    The second section asks questions about production costs and 
practices. Data collected will include information on input costs 
including seed, labor, fertilizer, licensing fees, and testing. This 
section dives deeper into the production costs for hemp and asks 
specific questions about the types of hemp.
    The third section covers contracting and marketing practices. Data 
collected will include information on farmgate pricing by end use, 
contract usage, contract structure, and storage.
    The final section, Decision Maker Characteristics, will collect 
demographic information on producers age, education level, experience, 
household size, and race.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.5 hours per response.
    Description of Respondents: Domestic hemp producers.
    Number of Respondents: 18,000 respondents.
    Frequency of Responses: Once.
    Total Burden Hours: 9,000 total burden hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility; (2) 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) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who respond, including through the 
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

[[Page 65789]]

    Comments should reference this docket number and be sent 
electronically to www.regulations.gov, or in writing to the USDA in 
care of the Docket Clerk at the address above. All comments received 
within the provided comment period will be available for public 
inspection during regular business hours at the same address.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.
    AMS is committed to compliance with the E-Government Act to promote 
the use of the internet and other information technologies, to provide 
increased opportunities for citizen access to Government information 
and services, and for other purposes.
    A 60-day comment period is provided to allow interested persons to 
respond to the notice.

Bruce Summers,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-22924 Filed 10-15-20; 8:45 am]
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