[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 230 (Friday, December 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68628-68629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26277]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Request To Conduct a New 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 approval to conduct a new information collection 
to gather data on production practices and chemical use. These surveys 
are funded by State Departments of Agriculture, land grant 
universities, and other organizations with which NASS has a Memorandum 
of Understanding (MOU). These surveys were previously included in the 
ARMS (OMB Control Number 0535-0218) docket and are being moved into a 
standalone docket for ease of processing.

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-
NEW, 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: Cooperator Funded Chemical Use Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-NEW.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to create a new 
information collection for a period of three years.
    Abstract: The chemical use data collection activities in this 
clearance request would be conducted through cooperative agreements 
with State Departments of Agriculture, land-grant universities, or 
other organizations with which NASS has a Memorandum of Understanding 
(MOU). Previously, these collections were included in the Agricultural 
Resource Management and Chemical Use Surveys Information Collection 
Request (OMB Control Number 0535-0218). These cooperator funded 
chemical use surveys are being separated out to allow flexibility for 
survey changes and possible new surveys without affecting the surveys 
funded through USDA's Congressional appropriation. The surveys in the 
Information Collection Request allow flexibility for the cooperators to 
best address current trends in the farming industry within States.
    The Field Crop Production Practice and Chemical Use Surveys in this 
request will be conducted on an established schedule depending on 
funding from the cooperators:
     Maryland Department of Agriculture,
     Minnesota Department of Agriculture,
     Mississippi State University Extension Service,
     Illinois Department of Agriculture, and
     Other State Department of Agriculture, land grant 
university, or other organization with a cooperative agreement with 
NASS.
    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 30 minutes per 
survey.
    Respondents: Farmers, ranchers, farm managers, farm contractors, 
and farm households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Approximately 35,000 respondents 
will be sampled each year for the Cooperator Funded Chemical Use 
Surveys.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: Approximately 15,000 
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

[[Page 68629]]

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. 2021-26277 Filed 12-2-21; 8:45 am]
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