[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 173 (Friday, September 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62047-62048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19381]


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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 Fruits, Nuts, and Specialty Crops 
Surveys. Revisions to burden are needed due to (1) funding status 
changes for surveys conducted under cooperative agreements under full 
cost recovery and (2) changes in the size of the target population, 
sample design,

[[Page 62048]]

and minor changes in questionnaire design.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by November 7, 2023 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0039, 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)720-2206 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Fruits, Nuts, and Specialty Crops Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0039.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2026.
    Type of Request: To revise and extend a currently approved 
information collection for a period of three years.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) is to collect, 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 also to conduct the Census of Agriculture.
    The Fruits, Nuts, and Specialty Crops survey program collects 
information on acreage, yield, production, price, and value of citrus 
and non-citrus fruits and nuts and other specialty crops in States with 
significant commercial production. The program provides data needed by 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other government agencies to 
administer programs and to set trade quotas and tariffs. Producers, 
processors, other industry representatives, State Departments of 
Agriculture, and universities also use forecasts and estimates provided 
by these surveys. All questionnaires included in this information 
collection will be voluntary.
    The following survey is no longer funded by a cooperative agreement 
and constitute the majority of changes from the current approval: (1) 
Dried Plum (Prune) Forecast Survey previously funded by the California 
Department of Food and Agriculture.
    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 approximately 50 individual surveys with 
expected response times of 10--60 minutes. The frequency of data 
collection for the different surveys will include annual, seasonal, 
quarterly, monthly, and one weekly survey. Estimated number of 
responses per respondent is 1.2. Publicity materials and instruction 
sheets will account for approximately 5 minutes of additional burden 
per respondent. Respondents who refuse to complete a survey will be 
allotted 2 minutes of burden per attempt to collect the data. 
Respondents: Producers, processors, and handlers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 59,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 30,000 hours.
    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, August 9, 2023.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-19381 Filed 9-7-23; 8:45 am]
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