Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 60672 [E8-24311]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 60672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-24311]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 199 / Tuesday, October 14, 2008 / 
Notices

[[Page 60672]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

October 8, 2008.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) Whether the 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 burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Milk and Milk Products.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0020.
    Summary of Collection: The National Agricultural Statistics 
Service's (NASS) primary function is to prepare and issue current 
official state and national estimates of crop and livestock production. 
Estimates of milk production and manufactured dairy products are an 
integral part of this program. Milk and dairy statistics are used by 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help administer price 
support programs and by the dairy industry in planning, pricing, and 
projecting supplies of milk and milk products. The general authority 
for these data collection activities is granted under U.S. Code Title 
7, Section 2204.
    Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information on 
monthly estimates of stocks, shipments, and selling prices for such 
products as butter, cheese, dry whey, and nonfat dry milk. Cheddar 
cheese prices are collected weekly and used by USDA to assist in the 
determination of the fair market value of raw milk. Estimates of total 
milk production, number of milk cow, and milk production per cow, are 
used by the dairy industry in planning, pricing, and projecting 
supplies of milk and milk products. Collecting data less frequently 
would prevent USDA and the agricultural industry from keeping abreast 
of changes at the State and national level.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 25,053.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Quarterly; Weekly; Monthly; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 10,748.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

    Title: Field Crops Objective Yield.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0088.
    Summary of Collection: The primary function of the National 
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to prepare and issue current 
official State and national estimates of crop and livestock production. 
General authority for these data collection activities is granted under 
U.S. Code Title 7, Section 2204. This statue specifies the ``The 
Secretary of Agriculture shall procure and preserve all information 
concerning agriculture which he can obtain * * * by the collection of 
statistics * * * and shall distribute them among agriculturists''. Data 
collected provides yield estimates for corn, cotton, potatoes, soybeans 
and wheat. The yield estimates are extremely important because they're 
used in conjunction with price data to estimate production and in 
making policy decisions in agricultural sectors.
    Need and Use of the Information: NASS will collect information on 
sample fields of corn, cotton, soybeans, potatoes, and winter, Durum 
and other Spring wheat. The information will be use to anticipate loan 
receipts and pricing of loan stocks for grains.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 8,700.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Monthly during growing season.
    Total Burden Hours: 3,104.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-24311 Filed 10-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P