[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 81 (Thursday, April 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25618-25619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08847]


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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 Prices Surveys. 
Revision to burden hours will be needed due to the addition and/or 
deletion of surveys, changes in the size of the target population, 
sampling design, and/or questionnaire length.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 26, 2023 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0003, by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include docket number 
above in the subject line of the message.
     E-fax: (855) 838-6382.
     Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions to: 
Richard Hopper, 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: Richard Hopper, 
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) 720-2707. Copies of this information 
collection and related instructions can be obtained without charge from 
Richard Hopper, NASS--OMB Clearance Officer, at (202) 690-2388 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Agricultural Prices.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0003.
    Expiration Date of Approval: November 30, 2023.
    Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Revise and Extend an 
Information Collection for 3 years.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue State and national 
estimates of crop and livestock production, prices, and disposition; as 
well as economic statistics, environmental statistics related to 
agriculture and to conduct the Census of Agriculture.
    The Agricultural Prices surveys provide data on the prices received 
by farmers and prices paid by them for production goods and services. 
NASS estimates based on these surveys are used as a Principle Economic 
Indicator of the United States. These price estimates are also used to 
compute Parity Prices in accordance with requirements of the 
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 as amended (Title III, Subtitle A, 
Section 301(a)). In addition, price data are used by the Federal Crop 
Insurance Corporation to help determine payment rates, program option 
levels, and disaster programs.
    Changes from the currently approved information collection include:
    (1) Addition of the Tobacco Price Inquiry. The Tobacco Price 
Inquiry is included in the Field Crops Information Collection Request 
(0535-0002).
    (2) Removal of the biennial hay production and sales survey. The 
data collected on the biennial hay survey was used to weight (by 
quantity) the monthly hay (alfalfa and other hay) prices to calculate 
the Marketing Year Average (MYA) and United States hay prices This has 
been replaced with assuming the % of alfalfa and other hay marketings 
by month by state hasn't changed from recent surveys.
    (3) Addition of collecting hay prices on the Cattle on Feed Survey. 
The Cattle on Feed questionnaire (OMB No. 0535-0213) has a total burden 
of 15 minutes on the questionnaire (6 minutes for cattle on feed 
questions, 9 minutes for hay prices). This survey is conducted monthly 
and hay price questions are included to prevent separate contacts for 
both cattle on feed and hay price surveys. Similar methodology is used 
to collect hay prices on the milk production survey already included in 
this request.
    (4) Changes in the size of the target population, sampling design, 
number of mailings, and/or questionnaire length.
    These combined changes will decrease number of respondents by 
around 27,025 and burden by around 1,820 responses and 6,415 hours.
    Authority: These data will be collected under 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 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 information 
collection is based on more than 30 individual surveys with expected 
responses of 5-20 minutes and frequency of 1-12 times per year. 
Estimated number of responses per respondent is approximately 4.1 times 
per year.
    Respondents: Farmers and farm-related businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 40,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 26,000 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from Richard Hopper, NASS Clearance Officer, 
at (202) 690-2388.
    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

[[Page 25619]]

public record and be summarized in the request for OMB approval.

    Signed at Washington, DC, April 11, 2023.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-08847 Filed 4-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P