Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 36749-36750 [2024-09700]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 87 (Friday, May 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36749-36750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09700]


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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 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 87 / Friday, May 3, 2024 / Notices

[[Page 36749]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    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: (1) 
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; (2) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) 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 June 3, 2024. 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 (NASS)

    Title: Field Crops Production--Substantive Change.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0002.
    Summary of Collection: General authority for these data collection 
activities is granted under U.S. Code title 7, section 2204 which 
specifies that ``The Secretary of Agriculture shall procure and 
preserve all information concerning agriculture which he can obtain . . 
. by the collection of statistics . . .''. The primary objective of the 
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is to provide data 
users with timely and reliable agricultural production and economic 
statistics, as well as environmental and specialty agricultural related 
statistics. To accomplish this objective, NASS relies on the use of 
diverse surveys that show changes within the farming industry over 
time.
    The primary functions of the National Agricultural Statistics 
Services' (NASS) are to prepare and issue State and national estimates 
of crop and livestock production, disposition, and prices and to 
collect information on related environmental and economic factors. The 
Field Crops Production Program consists of probability field crops 
surveys and supplemental panel surveys. NASS will use surveys to 
collect information through a combination of the internet, mail, 
telephone, and personnel interviews. The general authority for these 
data collection activities is granted under U.S. Code title 7, section 
2204.
    The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is requesting a 
substantive change to the Field Crops Production information collection 
request (OMB No. 0535-0002) for program changes. Every five years NASS 
conducts a program review following the completion of the Census of 
Agriculture. The program changes in this change request balance 
resources across all of the programs included in the annual estimating 
program ensuring NASS' annual statistical program aligns with its 
appropriation. This substantive change is to accommodate the field crop 
program changes that affect this ICR. The changes in this request 
decreases burden hours.
    Need and Use of the Information: NASS collects information on field 
crops to monitor agricultural developments across the country that may 
impact on the nation's food supply. The Secretary of Agriculture uses 
estimates of crop production to administer farm program legislation and 
import and export programs. Collecting this information less frequently 
would eliminate the data needed to keep the Department abreast of 
changes at the State and national level.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profits.
    Number of Respondents: 348,675.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 111,621.

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)

    Title: Fruit, Nuts, And Specialty Crops--Substantive Change.
    OMB Control Number: 0535-0039.
    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. 
Estimates of fruit, tree nuts, and specialty crops are an integral part 
of this program. These estimates support the NASS strategic plan to 
cover all agricultural cash receipts. The authority to collect these 
data activities is granted under U.S. Code title 7, section 2204(a). 
Information is collected on a voluntary basis from growers, processors, 
and handlers through surveys. 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, and title III of Public Law 
115-435 (CIPSEA) which requires USDA to afford strict confidentially to 
non-aggregated data provided by respondents.
    The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is requesting a 
substantive change to the Fruit, Nuts, And Specialty Crops information 
collection request (OMB No. 0535-0039) for mushroom program changes. 
Every five years NASS conducts a program review following the 
completion of the Census of Agriculture. The program changes balance 
resources across all of the programs included in the annual estimating 
program, which represents over 400 individual reports across multiple 
Information Collection Requests (ICRs). This substantive

[[Page 36750]]

change is to accommodate the mushroom program changes that affect this 
ICR. The methodology, publication dates, burden and data collection 
plan do not change as result of these program changes. The changes to 
these surveys will not affect burden hours.
    Need and Use of the Information: Data reported on fruit, nut, and 
specialty crops are used by NASS to estimate crop acreage, yield, 
production, utilization, price, and value in States with significant 
commercial production. These estimates are essential to farmers, 
processors, importers and exporters, shipping companies, cold storage 
facilities and handlers in making production and marketing decisions. 
Estimates from these inquiries are used by market order administrators 
in their determination of expected crop supplies under federal and 
State market orders.
    Description of Respondents: Farms; Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 55,435.
    Frequency of Responses: On occasion; Annually; Semi-annually; 
Quarterly; Monthly; Weekly.
    Total Burden Hours: 28,114.

Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-09700 Filed 5-2-24; 8:45 am]
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