[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 66956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31273]
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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
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
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Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 248 / Wednesday, December 27, 1995 /
Notices
[[Page 66956]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. LS-95-016]
Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently
Approved Information Collection
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing
Service's (AMS) request for comments from the grain industry to improve
or change the procedures for collecting information used to compile and
generate grain related reports.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 26, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Contact Jimmy A. Beard; Assistant to the Chief; Livestock
and Grain Market News Branch, Livestock and Seed Division, AMS-USDA,
Room 2623 South Building, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jimmy A. Beard, (202) 720-1050.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Grain Market News Reports and Molasses Market News Reports.
OMB Number: 0581-0005.
Expiration Date of Approval: 3-31-96.
Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: The grain industry has requested that USDA issue market
news reports on grain and molasses. These reports are compiled in
cooperation with the grain and feed industry and AMS. Market news
reporting must be timely, accurate, and continuous if it is to be
useful to producers, processors, and the trade in general. Industry
traders can use market news information to make marketing decisions on
when and where to buy and sell. For example, a producer could compare
prices being paid at local, terminal, or export elevators to determine
which location will provide the best return. Some traders might choose
to chart prices over a period of time in order to determine the most
advantageous day of the week to buy or sell, or to determine the most
favorable season. In addition, the reports are used by other Government
agencies to evaluate market conditions and calculate price levels used
for the Farmer-owned Reserve Program. Economists at most major
agricultural colleges and universities use the grain and feed market
news reports to make short and long-term market projections.
The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621), section
203(g) directs and authorizes the collection and dissemination of
marketing information including adequate outlook information, on a
market area basis, for the purpose of anticipating and meeting consumer
requirements aiding in the maintenance of farm income and to bring
about a balance between production and utilization.
The grain industry could not collect the information themselves as
they would not want to divulge their information to competitors, and
exchange of such information between competitors would violate
antitrust laws. Consequently, the information must be collected,
compiled, and disseminated by an impartial third- party, in a manner
which protects the confidentiality of the reporter. Also, since the
Government is a large purchaser of grain and related products, a system
to monitor the collection and reporting of data is needed.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average .0833 hours per response.
Respondents: Business or other for profit, individuals or
households, farms, Federal Government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 160.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 52.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 204 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Jimmy A.
Beard, Livestock and Grain Market News Branch, at (202) 720-1050.
Send comments regarding the accuracy of the burden estimate, ways
to minimize the burden, including through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, or any
other aspect of this collection of information, to: Jimmy A. Beard,
Assistant to the Chief, Livestock and Grain Market News Branch,
Livestock and Seed Division, AMS-USDA, Room 2623 South Building, P.O.
Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of
public record, and will be made available at the address above during
regular business hours.
Dated: December 18, 1995.
Lon Hatamiya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-31273 Filed 12-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
