[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 230 (Friday, December 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68629-68630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26275]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Revise and Extend 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 Resources Management 
Survey (ARMS), phases 1 and 2 as well as Chemical Use Surveys. All 
phases of the Agricultural Resources Management Survey(s) are included 
in the current OMB Control Number 0535-0218, but this information 
collection renewal request will only include the ARMS phases 1 and 2 as 
well as Chemical Use Surveys. The ARMS phase 3 and cooperator funded 
chemical use surveys will be moved to two new information collection 
requests. Splitting these surveys across multiple information 
collections will allow USDA and cooperators more flexibility for 
changes to best address current trends in the farming industry. A 
revision to burden hours will be needed due to this separation as well 
as changes in the size of the target population, sampling design, and/
or questionnaire length.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 1, 2022 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0218, by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include 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 Resources Management Survey and Chemical Use 
Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0218.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: November 30, 2023.
    Type of Request: Intent to revise and extend a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Resource Management Survey(s) (ARMS) are 
the primary source of information for the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture on a broad range of issues related to: Production 
practices, costs and returns, pest management, chemical usage, and 
contractor expenses. Data are collected on both a whole farm level and 
on selected commodities. Historically, the ARMS docket contained a 
screening phase, a chemical use phase and an economic phase. In 
addition, it contained chemical use surveys for fruits and vegetables 
along with specialty surveys conducted through External Project 
Agreements (EPA). This Notice and information collection will focus on 
the ARMS phases 1 and 2--the screening, production practices, as well 
as chemical use surveys.
    The combined ARMS surveys are the only source of information 
available for objective evaluation of many critical issues related to 
economics, chemical usage, and cropping practices. Breaking these 
surveys into separate OMB approvals will assist in making timely 
updates to questionnaires to keep in touch with an ever changing 
industry.
    Cost of Production: A Congressional mandate exists for the 
development of annual estimates of the cost of producing wheat, feed 
grains, cotton, and dairy commodities. USDA also collects cost of 
production data for soybeans, rice, peanuts, hogs, and beef cow-calf in 
order to provide economic information for comparison among the major 
farm commodities that compete for U.S. agricultural resources. The 
economic data collection and publication for the cost of production 
surveys will be included under a new, separate OMB approval.
    Chemical Use Surveys: Congress has mandated that NASS and ERS build 
nationally coordinated databases on agricultural chemical use and 
related farm practices; these databases are the primary vehicles used 
to produce specified environmental and economic estimates. The surveys 
will help provide the knowledge and technical means for producers and 
researchers to address on-farm environmental concerns in a manner that 
maintains agricultural productivity.
    The commodities that are scheduled to be included in this approval 
are in the following table.

                Chemical Use Target Commodities 2022-2024
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          Year                    Survey             Target commodity
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2022....................  Integrated Screening..  ARMS phases 2 & 3 Plus
                                                   Chemical Use.
                          ARMS phase 2 (PPCR)...  wheat.
                          ARMS phase 2 (PPR)....  potatoes.
                          Chemical Use..........  vegetables.
2023....................  ARMS phase 1..........  ARMS phases 2 & 3.
                          ARMS phase 2 (PPCR)...  soybeans, oats,
                                                   peanuts.
                          ARMS phase 2 (PPR)....  none.
                          Chemical Use..........  fruit.

[[Page 68630]]

 
2024....................  Integrated Screening..  ARMS phases 2 & 3 plus
                                                   Chemical Use.
                          ARMS phase 2 (PPCR)...  TBD.
                          ARMS phase 2 (PPR)....  TBD.
                          Chemical Use..........  vegetables.
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PPCR--Production Practices and Costs Report.
PPR--Production Practices Report.

    Authority: 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, 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 (at 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) and Office of Management and Budget 
regulations at 5 CFR part 1320.
    All NASS employees and NASS contractors must also fully comply with 
all provisions of the Confidential Information Protection and 
Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) of 2018, Title III of Public Law 
115-435, codified in 44 U.S.C. Ch. 35. CIPSEA supports NASS's pledge of 
confidentiality to all respondents and facilitates the agency's efforts 
to reduce burden by supporting statistical activities of collaborative 
agencies through designation of NASS agents, subject to the limitations 
and penalties described in CIPSEA.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average approximately 14 minutes per 
response.
    Respondents: Farmers, ranchers, farm managers, farm contractors, 
and farm households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Approximately 112,000 respondents 
will be sampled each year. Less than 20 percent of these respondents 
will be contacted more than one time in a single year for the surveys 
in this docket.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: Approximately 45,000 
hours per year.
    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, November 10, 2021.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2021-26275 Filed 12-2-21; 8:45 am]
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