[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 236 (Monday, December 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70816-70817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26940]


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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 List Sampling Frame Surveys. 
Revision to burden hours will be needed due to (1) The survey not being 
conducted for 2022 due to the Census of Agriculture, and the 
discontinuation of the June Area Research Project (JARP) currently in 
the inventory. Annually, NASS obtains lists of farm and ranch operators 
from different crop and livestock organizations. Before adding these 
names to our list of active operators we will contact the individuals 
to determine if they qualify as a farm or ranch and then collect basic 
information from them on the size and type of operation they have. 
These data will be used to eliminate any duplication we may have with 
names already on our list.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 11, 2022 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0140, 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) 720-5142. 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: List Sampling Frame Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0140.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2022.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Revise and Extend an 
Information Collection for a period of three years.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service is to prepare and issue State and national estimates 
of crop and livestock production, economic statistics, environmental 
statistics related to agriculture and also to conduct the Census of 
Agriculture. The List Sampling Frame Surveys are used to develop and 
maintain a complete list of possible farm and ranch operations. The 
goal is to produce for each State a relatively complete, current, and 
unduplicated list of names for statistical sampling for agricultural 
operation surveys and the Census of Agriculture. Data from these 
agricultural surveys are used by government agencies and educational 
institutions in planning, farm policy analysis, and program 
administration. More importantly, farmers and ranchers use NASS data to 
help make informed business decisions on what commodities to produce 
and when is the optimal time to market their products. NASS data is 
useful to farmers in comparing their farming practices with the 
economic and environmental data published by 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 
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 (Pub. L. 104-113) and the 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.

[[Page 70817]]

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 10 to 15 minutes per respondent.
    Respondents: Potential Farmers and Ranchers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 260,000 (annual average).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: With an estimated 
response rate of approximately 65% NASS estimates the burden to be 
approximately 60,000 hours (annually).
    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, including 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, December 1, 2021.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2021-26940 Filed 12-10-21; 8:45 am]
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