Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 73258 [2020-25296]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 222 (Tuesday, November 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 73258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25296]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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. 85, No. 222 / Tuesday, November 17, 2020 / 
Notices

[[Page 73258]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

November 12, 2020.
    The Department of Agriculture will submit the following information 
collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 on or after the date 
of publication of this notice. Comments are requested regarding: 
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; the accuracy of the agency's 
estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and 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.
    Comments regarding these information collections are best assured 
of having their full effect if received by December 17, 2020. Written 
comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection 
should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on 
the following website www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this 
particular information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day 
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
    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: Bee and Honey Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0153.
    Summary of Collection: The National Agricultural Statistics Service 
(NASS) primary function is to prepare and issue State and national 
estimates of crop and livestock production, products, prices and 
disposition. General authority for these data collection activities is 
granted under U.S. Code Title 7, Section 2204. Domestic honeybees are 
critical to the pollination of U.S. crops, especially fruits, some 
nuts, vegetables and some specialty crops. Africanized bees, colony 
collapse disorder, parasites, diseases, and pesticides threaten the 
survival of bees. Programs are provided by federal, State and local 
governments to assist in the survival of bees and to encourage 
beekeepers to maintain bee colonies. NASS is also revising the title of 
this collection to Bee and Honey Survey.
    Need and Use of the Information: Bee and honey data are collected 
only once a year. Collecting data less frequently would diminish the 
ability to track changing trends in the honey industry. The frequency 
of the report has evolved to meet the needs of customers and yet 
minimize the burden on the reporting public. The survey will provide 
data needed by the Department and other government agencies to 
administer programs and to set trade quotas and tariffs. Without the 
information agricultural industry would not be aware of changes at the 
State and national level.
    NASS commodity statisticians stay in close contact with beekeepers 
and data users by attending numerous meetings and tradeshows around the 
country. NASS has obtained a great deal of input from data users as to 
what sort of published data they need and what sort of production data 
individual growers can provide relating to colony loss and colony 
health. It was determined that health data on bee colonies should be 
collected quarterly in order to be able to monitor trends in colony 
loss closely and to reduce possible errors in respondent memory recall.
    Data for operations with fewer than five colonies was last 
published in 2018. Data for these smaller operations will be collected 
once every five years through the Census of Agriculture (OMB no. 0535-
0226). Operations with five or more colonies will be contacted by NASS 
to collect colony loss data for the previous quarter and honey 
production data in January for the previous year.
    Furthermore, data relating to the number and location of commercial 
apiaries is vital to fruit, vegetable, and many specialty crop farmers. 
An ample supply of honeybees is crucial to the pollination of these 
crops. Many of the larger apiaries are contracted to transport their 
hives to regions producing fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops at 
the appropriate season(s) to ensure proper pollination of these crops.
    Description of Respondents: Farms.
    Number of Respondents: 12,225.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 7,442.

Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-25296 Filed 11-16-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-20-P