Public Notice of Non-Response Follow-Up for the 2017 Census of Agriculture, 17642-17643 [2018-08387]

Download as PDF 17642 Notices Federal Register Vol. 83, No. 78 Monday, April 23, 2018 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. Notice of Intent To Grant Exclusive License Agricultural Research Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, intends to grant to Koppert B.V. of The Netherlands, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 9,642,372, ‘‘TRICHODERMA MICROSCLEROTIA AND METHODS OF MAKING’’, issued on May 9, 2017. DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 23, 2018. ADDRESSES: Send comments to: USDA, ARS, Office of Technology Transfer, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Rm. 4–1174, Beltsville, Maryland 20705–5131. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian T. Nakanishi of the Office of Technology Transfer at the Beltsville address given above; telephone: 301– 504–5989. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Government’s patent rights in this invention are assigned to the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture. It is in the public interest to so license this invention as Koppert B.V. of The Netherlands has submitted a complete and sufficient application for a license. The prospective exclusive license will be royalty-bearing and will comply with the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. The prospective exclusive license may be granted unless, within thirty (30) days from the date of this published Notice, the Agricultural Research Service receives written evidence and argument which establishes that the grant of the license would not be consistent with the amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES 17:09 Apr 20, 2018 Jkt 244001 [FR Doc. 2018–08385 Filed 4–20–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–03–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Request for Stakeholder Input Relevant to the North American Regional Priorities for the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations Agricultural Research Service VerDate Sep<11>2014 Mojdeh Bahar, Assistant Administrator. Foreign Agricultural Service DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SUMMARY: requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. ACTION: Request for stakeholder input. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of State will host for the U.S. government the 2018 Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Informal North American Regional Conference (INARC). DATES: The INARC will be held on April 18–19, 2018. Stakeholder comments should be submitted to the point of contact listed below, by May 18, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Candice Bruce, (202) 720–1324, iNARCFAO@fas.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The INARC is a biennial meeting co-chaired with the Government of Canada to discuss the FAO North American region’s priorities as member countries of the FAO. Written input from stakeholders on their views for the 2018–2019 biennium priorities for the region is welcome and encouraged. Stakeholder input may be examined by the Governments of the United States and Canada while developing priorities for the 2018–2019 biennium. Priorities recommended by FAO member countries at regional conferences are taken into account in the FAO Programme of Work and Budget and are used to justify funding levels, work streams, and programming. The North American priorities highlighted at the 2016 INARC included FAO’s normative work and activities related to standards, guidelines, and practices; boosting FAO’s regulatory capacity building; FAO’s continued provision of impartial, evidence-based information to help small-holder farmers increase productivity and SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 production in a sustainable manner; and increasing FAO’s partnerships when implementing North American priorities. The North American region highlights FAO’s science and evidencebased work and aims to ensure that FAO uses resources efficiently and operates primarily in its areas of comparative advantage. Topics of focus to be discussed during the 2018 INARC include agri-food trade and global food security; gender equality and the empowerment of women; agricultural innovations; and FAO’s work in emergencies and emerging threats. These are the specific topics on which comments are sought. North America’s priorities will be published in the 5th INARC report which will be available to the public. The U.S. Government solicits written input from stakeholders who want to provide views related to the focus of the discussion areas regarding the FAO North American region’s priorities. This notice remains open after the INARC meeting; input received after April 18 may still be considered prior to the publication of the INARC report. Dated: April 9, 2018. Bobby Richey, Jr. Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service. [FR Doc. 2018–08350 Filed 4–20–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–10–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Agricultural Statistics Service Public Notice of Non-Response FollowUp for the 2017 Census of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to adjust the non-response follow-up methodology for the 2017 Census of Agriculture. DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 7, 2018 to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535–0226, by any of the following methods: SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM 23APN1 amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 78 / Monday, April 23, 2018 / Notices • Email: ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. 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: 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)720–2707. 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 ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: The 2017 Census of Agriculture. OMB Control Number: 0535–0226. Expiration Date of Previous Approval: October 31, 2019. Type of Request: Notice and request for comment on non-response follow-up for the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Abstract: The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is currently conducting the 2017 Census of Agriculture. The Census of Agriculture provides the only basis of consistent, comparable farm data for each county, county equivalent, and State in the United States. A farm is any place that produced and sold, or normally would produce and sell, $1,000 or more of agricultural products during the census reference year. The Census of Agriculture is required by law under the ‘‘Census of Agriculture Act of 1997,’’ Public Law 105–113, 7 U.S.C. 2204(g). The original due date for reporting to the 2017 Census of Agriculture was February 5, 2018. Despite receiving up to three paper questionnaires in the mail and being provided opportunities to report on the web, NASS has not received responses from over one-third of the initial Census of Agriculture mail list. Low response rates threaten the quality of the results and the usefulness of the information collected. To ensure proper representation of various geographic areas and sub-populations in the results, NASS will begin contacting non-respondents by using both telephone and in-person interviews. NASS will also make an additional VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:09 Apr 20, 2018 Jkt 244001 contact to non-respondents via mail to encourage response either by mail or on the web. Due to budget and time limitations, contacting all nonrespondents for interviews is not possible; therefore, NASS will randomly select respondents for increased efforts to obtain responses, prioritizing certain geographic areas and sub-populations. This involves a modification of the nonresponse follow-up procedures identified in the original supporting statements NASS submitted for this information collection (OMB Control Number 0535–0226). NASS will use historical data to prioritize which non-respondents to contact. Priority will be given to nonrespondents: In low-response counties; those believed to produce commodities with low-coverage in past censuses of agriculture; those believed to produce commodities or perform production practices NASS will target in future Census of Agriculture follow-on studies; or those believed to be members of minority groups, which are also known to have lower coverage in previous censuses of agriculture. Priority will also be given to those with a higher response likelihood based on previous contact for NASS censuses and surveys. NASS will use well-established statistical weighting and calibration techniques to ensure the results from the 2017 Census of Agriculture properly represent the intended population of inference. Individually identifiable information collected by the Census of Agriculture is 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 nonaggregated data provided by respondents. This Notice is submitted in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104– 13 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320. NASS also complies with OMB Implementation Guidance, ‘‘Implementation Guidance for Title V of the E-Government Act, Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA),’’ Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June 15, 2007, p. 33362. The law guarantees farm operators’ individual information will be kept confidential. NASS uses the information only for statistical purposes and publishes only tabulated total data. Comments: Comments are invited on NASS’s follow-up process for 2017 Census of Agriculture non-respondents. All responses to this notice will become a matter of public record. PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17643 Signed at Washington, DC, April 9, 2018. Kevin L. Barnes, Associate Administrator. [FR Doc. 2018–08387 Filed 4–20–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–20–P CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION Sunshine Act Meetings; In the Name of Hate: Examining the Federal Government’s Role in Responding to Hate Crimes United States Commission on Civil Rights. ACTION: Notice of Commission public briefing. AGENCY: Friday, May 11, 2018, 9:00 a.m.– 6:30 p.m. EST. See detailed agenda below. ADDRESSES: National Place Building, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 1150, Washington, DC 20425. Entrance is via F St. NW, between 13th and 14th Streets NW. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Walch, (202) 376–8371; TTY: (202) 376–8116; publicaffairs@ usccr.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission will hold a public briefing, ‘‘In the Name of Hate: Examining the Federal Government’s Role in Responding to Hate Crimes.’’ This meeting is open to the public. The Commission will examine best practices for local law enforcement on collecting and reporting data, and the role of the Education and Justice Departments in prosecution and prevention of these heinous acts. Commissioners will hear from local law enforcement and federal government officials, experts, academics, advocates, and survivors of hate. Testimony from this briefing will form an integral basis for the Commission’s subsequent report to Congress, the President, and the American people regarding the state of hate crimes and bias-related incidents across the nation. Members of the public who wish to address the Commission will have an opportunity to do so during an open comment session that will take place between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. EST. Individuals will be able to register for speaking slots, both online and at the briefing (in-person). Full details regarding registration for the open comment session will be available on the Commission’s website (www.usccr.gov) five (5) business days prior to the briefing. Thirty (30) spots will be available during the one and one-half hour period. Each individual DATES: E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM 23APN1

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[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 78 (Monday, April 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17642-17643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08387]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Agricultural Statistics Service


Public Notice of Non-Response Follow-Up for the 2017 Census of 
Agriculture

AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS) to adjust the non-response follow-up methodology for the 
2017 Census of Agriculture.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 7, 2018 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535-
0226, by any of the following methods:

[[Page 17643]]

     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: 
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)720-2707. 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: The 2017 Census of Agriculture.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0226.
    Expiration Date of Previous Approval: October 31, 2019.
    Type of Request: Notice and request for comment on non-response 
follow-up for the 2017 Census of Agriculture.
    Abstract: The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is 
currently conducting the 2017 Census of Agriculture. The Census of 
Agriculture provides the only basis of consistent, comparable farm data 
for each county, county equivalent, and State in the United States. A 
farm is any place that produced and sold, or normally would produce and 
sell, $1,000 or more of agricultural products during the census 
reference year.
    The Census of Agriculture is required by law under the ``Census of 
Agriculture Act of 1997,'' Public Law 105-113, 7 U.S.C. 2204(g).
    The original due date for reporting to the 2017 Census of 
Agriculture was February 5, 2018. Despite receiving up to three paper 
questionnaires in the mail and being provided opportunities to report 
on the web, NASS has not received responses from over one-third of the 
initial Census of Agriculture mail list. Low response rates threaten 
the quality of the results and the usefulness of the information 
collected. To ensure proper representation of various geographic areas 
and sub-populations in the results, NASS will begin contacting non-
respondents by using both telephone and in-person interviews. NASS will 
also make an additional contact to non-respondents via mail to 
encourage response either by mail or on the web. Due to budget and time 
limitations, contacting all non-respondents for interviews is not 
possible; therefore, NASS will randomly select respondents for 
increased efforts to obtain responses, prioritizing certain geographic 
areas and sub-populations. This involves a modification of the non-
response follow-up procedures identified in the original supporting 
statements NASS submitted for this information collection (OMB Control 
Number 0535-0226).
    NASS will use historical data to prioritize which non-respondents 
to contact. Priority will be given to non-respondents: In low-response 
counties; those believed to produce commodities with low-coverage in 
past censuses of agriculture; those believed to produce commodities or 
perform production practices NASS will target in future Census of 
Agriculture follow-on studies; or those believed to be members of 
minority groups, which are also known to have lower coverage in 
previous censuses of agriculture. Priority will also be given to those 
with a higher response likelihood based on previous contact for NASS 
censuses and surveys.
    NASS will use well-established statistical weighting and 
calibration techniques to ensure the results from the 2017 Census of 
Agriculture properly represent the intended population of inference.
    Individually identifiable information collected by the Census of 
Agriculture is 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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) and Office of 
Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320. NASS also 
complies with OMB Implementation Guidance, ``Implementation Guidance 
for Title V of the E-Government Act, Confidential Information 
Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA),'' Federal 
Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June 15, 2007, p. 33362. The law guarantees 
farm operators' individual information will be kept confidential. NASS 
uses the information only for statistical purposes and publishes only 
tabulated total data.
    Comments: Comments are invited on NASS's follow-up process for 2017 
Census of Agriculture non-respondents.
    All responses to this notice will become a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, April 9, 2018.
Kevin L. Barnes,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-08387 Filed 4-20-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-20-P

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