[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67410-67411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18594]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Notice of Intent To Request a 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 for surveys funded by NASS's many 
cooperators (Federal agencies, State governments, land grant 
universities, and other organizations) under a full cost recovery 
basis. Results from these surveys are important for the cooperators in 
carrying out their missions, as well as of general interest to the 
agricultural community. This generic clearance will allow NASS to 
conduct surveys in a timely manner for the cooperating institutions 
providing funding for the surveys.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 21, 2024 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0264, 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: Joseph J. Prusacki, Acting 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: Quick Response for Cooperator-Funded Surveys Generic 
Clearance.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0264.
    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. 
In addition, NASS has many cooperators

[[Page 67411]]

from other Federal agencies, State governments, land grant 
universities, and other organizations that seek NASS's assistance in 
collecting agricultural data through surveys. Results from these 
surveys are important for the cooperators in carrying out their 
missions, as well as of general interest to the agricultural community. 
Results from these surveys will be made available to the public by NASS 
or the cooperators who fund them. This generic clearance seeks approval 
for NASS to conduct a variety of agricultural surveys which will be 
paid for entirely by cooperators. NASS anticipates the cooperator-
funded surveys will cover topics such as: (1) farm management 
practices, (2) food safety, (3) workplace safety, (4) conservation and 
land use practices, (5) chemical use management practices, (6) crop 
quality, (7) agri-tourism, (8) local foods, and (9) other agricultural-
related topics. This generic clearance is subject to the regular 
clearance process at OMB with a 60-day notice and a 30-day notice as 
part of the 120-day review period. Each individual cooperator-funded 
survey is then subject to a clearance process with an abbreviated 
clearance package which justifies the particular content of the survey, 
describes the sample design, provides the timeline for the survey 
activities, and the questionnaire. The review period for each 
individual survey is approximately 45 days, including a 30-day Federal 
Register notice period.
    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, 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. NASS uses the information only for 
statistical purposes and publishes only tabulated total data.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this information 
collection is estimated to average 30 minutes per response. Up to 10 
individual surveys are included in this generic clearance to be 
conducted annually (total of 30). The estimated sample size for each of 
the 30 surveys is approximately 7,500. Each of the 30 surveys are 
expected to be conducted once annually. The estimated number of 
responses per respondent is 1. 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. NASS will 
conduct the surveys initially by mail and/or internet with phone 
follow-up for non-response. Face-to-face interviews may also be used in 
limited situations.
    Respondents: Farmers and ranchers, and others associated with the 
agricultural industry.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 225,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Once annually for each individual survey.
    Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: The total estimated burden 
is 112,000 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, July 30, 2024.
Joseph J. Prusacki,
Acting Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2024-18594 Filed 8-19-24; 8:45 am]
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